Potato Family (Noun)
Meaning
Large and economically important family of herbs or shrubs or trees often strongly scented and sometimes narcotic or poisonous; includes the genera Solanum, Atropa, Brugmansia, Capsicum, Datura, Hyoscyamus, Lycopersicon, Nicotiana, Petunia, Physalis, and Solandra.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- The potato family, Solanaceae, contains over 2,800 known species, ranging from common edible plants to ornamental flowers and medicinal herbs.
- Plants in the potato family often have tubular flowers and are typically pollinated by moths, hummingbirds, or other long-tongued insects.
- Due to the toxic nature of some species, it is crucial to educate children on plant identification and the hazards of ingesting members of the potato family.
- The potato family has had a significant impact on human history, providing not only staple foods but also essential medicines and tobacco.
- From crop rotation to studying indigenous uses, understanding the diversity of the potato family can offer ideas for increased sustainability in modern agriculture.