The Solanaceae group of flowering plants are also called as nightshades. The family ranges from annual and perennial herbs to vines, lianas, epiphytes, shrubs, and trees, and includes a number of important agricultural crops, medicinal plants, spices, weeds, and ornamentals. Many members of the family contain potent alkaloids. Some of these plants are highly poisonous. The family belongs to the order Solanes, in the asterid group dicotylednous plants. The Solanaceae consists of roughly about 98 genera and some 2,700 species.