Nicotianoideae in the context of Duboisia

Solanaceae (/ˌsɒləˈneɪsi.iː, -ˌaɪ/), commonly known as the nightshades, is a family of flowering plants in the order Solanales. The family contains approximately 2,700 species, several of which are used as agricultural crops, medicinal plants, and ornamental plants. Many members of the family have high alkaloid contents, making some highly toxic, but many—such as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and peppers—are commonly used in food.

Originating in South America, Solanaceae now inhabit every continent on Earth except Antarctica. After the K–Pg extinction event they rapidly diversified and have adapted to live in deserts, tundras, rainforests, plains, and highlands, and taken on wide range of forms including trees, vines, shrubs, and epiphytes. Nearly 80% of all nightshades are included in the subfamily Solanoideae, most of which are members of the type genus Solanum. Most taxonomists recognize six other subfamilies: Cestroideae, Goetzeoideae, Nicotianoideae, Petunioideae, Schizanthoideae, and Schwenkioideae, although nightshade taxonomy is still controversial. The genus Duckeodendron is sometimes placed in its own subfamily, Duckeodendroideae.

Solanoideae is a subfamily of the flowering plant family Solanaceae, and is sister to the subfamily Nicotianoideae. Within Solanaceae, Solanoideae contains some of the most economically important genera and species, such as the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), potato (Solanum tuberosum), eggplant or aubergine (Solanum melongena), chili and bell peppers (Capsicum spp.), mandrakes (Mandragora spp.), and jimson weed (Datura stramonium).

This subfamily consists of several well-established tribes: Capsiceae, Datureae, Hyoscyameae, Juanulloeae, Lycieae, Nicandreae, Nolaneae, Physaleae, Solandreae, and Solaneae. The subfamily also contains the contended tribes Mandragoreae and Jaboroseae.