Nightshade is the common name for the family of plants that have the scientific name Solanaceae. Thousands of species (kinds) of plants belong to this family. They grow throughout the world, especially in South America and Central America.
Various species in the nightshade family are grown for food. These include the potato, tomato, eggplant, capsicum (red, chili, and bell peppers), and such tropical species as naranjilla and tree tomatoes. The family also includes some poisonous plants used to make medicines, such as henbane, jimson weed, belladonna (also called deadly nightshade), and the mandrakes. Other species yield an important source of food for many wild animals. The petunia, a garden flower, and the tobacco plant also belong to the family.
Superstitions and folklore surround many plants in the family. Europeans once associated some species with witchcraft. In the 1500’s, many people believed tomatoes and potatoes were poisonous.
