nightshade family

American  

noun

1. the plant family Solanaceae, characterized by herbaceous plants, trees, shrubs, and vines having alternate, simple or pinnate leaves, conspicuous flowers, and fruit in the form of a berry or capsule, and including belladonna, eggplant, nightshade, peppers of the genus Capsicum, petunia, potato, tobacco, and tomato.

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Example Sentences

The Lippman lab focuses on plants in the nightshade family, which includes staple crops like tomatoes, eggplants, and potatoes, along with lesser-known species such as goldenberries.

From Science Daily • Jan. 11, 2026

The plant is part of the black nightshade family and is harmful if eaten, especially its unripened berries or leaves, and can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, trembling, paralysis, coma or even death.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2024

The fruits, which belong to the nightshade family of flowering plants, are deliciously salty with syrupy undertones, making them perfect to use in salads, pizzas or, even, desserts.

From Salon • Jul. 27, 2022

I recently had allergy testing done and learned that I am sensitive to foods in the nightshade family.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 15, 2021

Petunia, pē-tū′ni-a, n. a Brazilian genus of ornamental plants of the nightshade family, with small undivided leaves and showy funnel-form flowers.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various