Solanum

Solanum, group of herbs, shrubs, and trees belonging to the nightshade family. Solanum grows worldwide, particularly in the temperate regions of South and North America. Many of the members of this family are important for food and medicinal purposes, although all contain some amounts of poisonous alkaloids such as atropine, nicotine, and solanin. Included in this group are the potato, tomato, eggplant, tobacco, bittersweet, common nightshade, and horse nettle. The fruit may be either capsulated (tobacco) or in berry form (potato and eggplant).