General Systematic Survey of Solanaceae and Convolvulaceae in Selected Native

Philippine Plant Representatives

Catalan, John Rudolf, Jens Norman Atizado1

1

Biology Students, Department of Biology, College of Science, Polytechnic University of the

Philippines

INTRODUCTION
Solanaceae (night shade plants) and Convovulaceae (morning glory) are assigned to Solanales.
Usually they have a tremendous economic, agriculture, medicinal importance in the world and also they
distributed worldwide (except Antartica). Systematic classification and taxonomy has been establish
several research in the relationship between the Solanales particularly Solanaceae and Convovulaceae.
Within Solanales, Montiniaceae were found to be sister to Solanaceae and Convolvulaceae (B. Bremer
2001) Though many authors have placed Convolvulaceae in the order Solanales (e.g., Cronquist 1988;
Dahlgren 1989; Thorne 1992) the family has been segregated alternatively into its own order,
Convolvulales; this opinion was based on a number of characteristics not shared with other Solanales, e.g.
presence of articulated latex canals and latex cells (Takhtajan 1997).
Morphological similarities shows Solanaceae are sister group of Convovulaceae by comparing
the flower structure (Olmstead, RG and Palmer, 1991). Solanaceae have 5 fused sepals, an actinomorphic
corolla of 5 fused petals that are sometimes connate to the tip as in many Convolvulaceae, 5 stamens
adnate to the corolla, and 2 carpels fused into a superior ovary. The fruit may be a many-seeded capsule
(usually >4 seeds, compare to Convolvulaceae) or berry. The corolla is often plicate (showing fold lines)
while on Convovulaceae, the shape of corolla is cork-screwed or convoluted (e.g Ipomea batatas).
Anthers may dehisce in typical, longitudinal slit-fashion, or through pores at the apex of the anther. Many
have the 5 anthers ringed in a cone-like structure that release pollen from pores. (Olmstead, RG. 1991).
Different modern phylogenetic methods have been used to verify, understood and to analyze
Convovulaceae and Solanaceae if they have a same relationship to each other. According to Olmstead,
RG and Krueger L. (2002). in order to assess family relationship among its major lineage of Solanales
particularly Convovulaceae and Solanaceae. A broad data was constructed containing representatives of
all recognized tribes of Convovulaceae and Solanaceae by means of extracting data from the sequences
of chloroplast regions rbcL, atpB, psbE-J operon, and trnL-trnF intron/spacer. The results indicate that
Convolvulaceae are monophyletic and sister to Solanaceae. Two of the three groups that have been

proposed previously as separate families Cuscuta and Dichondreae, are nested within the Convolvulaceae
in this analysis, and the third, Humbertia, is the sister to all other members of the family.
Another research conducted by Olmstead, RG and Palmer (1991) suggested the Convolvulaceae
are closely related to Solanaceae by means of cpDNA data analysis. The geographical distribution of
these two families (Convolvulaceae cosmopolitan and well developed in New and Old World; Solanaceae
primarily New World) as well as absence of an obvious, unique and unreversed morphological
synapomorphy for the Convolvulaceae sensu lato (s.l.), might indicate an older origin of Convolvulaceae,
possibly as a paraphyletic group related to the monophyletic Solanaceae. (Olmstead, RG. 1991).
The purpose of this research paper is to (1) familiarize the extant, native and endemic species of
Convovulaceae and Solanaceae present in the Philippines. The cultivated and naturalized species are also
included. (2) To identify the rationale of studying representative species of the said latter species to
describe the cultivation, distribution and economic uses
METHODOLOGY
In this research, the usage of Cos Digital flora and other Philippine flora books is our basis in
determine the list of Philippine endemic species of Convovulaceae and Solanaceae. Other available
specimens are being display and presented in order to know the basic similarities and differences of the
said latter families. After we collected data and analysis from this website and other Philippine flora
resources. The researchers arrange the representative species according to their relationship base on their
phylogenetic tree/ cladogram to come up if they have similarities or difference with each other.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
CONVOVULACEAE
Convolvulaceae, the morning glory family, is a large family under the order Solanales exhibiting
a rich diversity of morphological characteristics and ecological habitats. The morning-glory family
comprises approximately 16001700 species grouped in 5560 genera (Mabberley, 1987). The family is
nearly cosmopolitan in distribution, but its members are primarily tropical plants, with many genera
endemic to tropical zones of individual continents (Austin 1998). Uncertainties exist regarding both
delimitation of the family and intrafamilial (tribal) circumscription. Currently available classifications
within Convolvulaceae rely largely on the work of several earlier workers, including Choisy (1845),
Bentham and Hooker (1873), Hallier (1893), Peter (1891, 1897), and Roberty (1952, 1964).
Every species in the family of Convovulaceae has the following unifying characteristics: herbs or
shrubs, usually with twining or climbing stems or erect, often with milky juice. Leaves alternate, simple,

entire, dissected, or compound, absent in parasitic species. Flowers solitary, axillary or in cymes, racemes,
panicles, umbels, or capitula, bisexual, actinomorphic, usually 5-merous, often showy. Sepals free, often
persistent, sometimes enlarged in fruit. Corolla sympetalous, funnelform, campanulate, salverform, or
urceolate; limb subentire or deeply lobed. Stamens alternating with corolla lobes, adnate to corolla;
filaments filiform, equal or unequal in length; anthers introrse, laterally and longitudinally dehiscing;
pollen smooth or finely spiny. Disc ringlike or cupular. Ovary superior, mostly 2-carpellate, 1- or 2loculed, rarely 3- or 4-loculed; ovules basal, erect. Styles 1 or 2, terminal (gynobasic in Dichondra) or
very short or absent; stigma entire or 2- (or 3)-lobed, rarely peltate. Fruit a capsule, dehiscing by valves,
circumscissile, or irregularly shattering, less often a berry or nutlike. Seeds usually trigonous, smooth or
pubescent. (Staples & Rui-cheng, 1995)
A lot of species in the morning glory family has significant uses and economic importance. For
example Ipomoea batatas or commonly called as sweet potato serves as our secondary source of energy
when rice is not available. It is also recognized as the 7 th largest food crop globally. Some species are
strong purgatives and laxatives and use as medicine in the late 60s and 70s. Lastly, numerous species of
Convolvulaceae is cultivated for ornamental purposes because of its beautiful flower. Taxonomic and
phylogenetic analysis shows that Convovulaceae has a diverse subfamilies and tribes according to their
morphology, reproductive biology and phylogenetic analysis arrange to come up with a vast arrangement
of systematically related genera (Austin, 2003). This list are genera

that is only native and found in

the Philippines

Family Convolvulaceae
1.

Tribe Argyrieae
a.

Argyrieae
i.

Argyreia apoensis

ii.

Argyreia boholensis

iii.

Argyreia luzonensis

a.

Ipomoea

ii.

Ipomoea aculeate

iii.

Ipomoea alba

v. Ipomoea batatas

v. Argyreia nervosa
Tribe Ipomoeeae

Ipomoea indica

iv. Ipomoea aquatic

iv. Argyreia philippinensis

2.

i.

3.

vi.

Ipomoae campanulata

vii.

Ipomoea muricata

viii.

Ipomoea triloba

ix.

Ipomoea rubens

x.

Ipomoea mauritiana

Tribe Merremieae
a.

Merremia

i.

Merremia emarginata

v. Erycibe sericea

ii.

Merremia gemella

vi.

Erycibe terminaliflora

iii.

Merremia peltata

vii.

Erycibe tomentosa

iv. Merremia umbellate

b.

Operculina

v. Merremia vitifolia
4.

Tribe Erycibeae
a.

Erycibe (unresolved via plantlist.org)

i.

Erycibe malaccensis

ii.

Erycibe micrantha

iii.

Erycibe ramosii

c.

5.

i.

Operculina turpethum

ii.

Operculina riedeliana

Hewittia
i.

Hewittia malabarica

i.

Aniseia martinicensi

Tribe Aniseieae

iv. Erycibe sargentii

Dichotomous Key of Convolvulaceae generas (Stefanovi, 2003)

1. Plants large trees; many ovules per ovary; flowers zygomorphic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 8. Humbertieae
1. Plants herbs, vines, lianas, or shrubs (rarely small trees); 14(-6) ovules per ovary; flowers actinomorphic (rarely weakly zygomorphic).
2. Plants parasitic, achlorophyllous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. Cuscuteae
2. Plants non-parasitic, chlorophyllous.
3. Style 1 or absent and ovary with sessile stigma.
4. Leaf venation palmate; fruit utricular; calyx accrescent; bracts foliaceous . . . . . . . . . 2. Cardiochlamyeae
4. Leaf venation pinnate; fruit capsular, baccate, or dry-baccate; calyx accrescent or not; bracts scale-like.
5. Style absent; stigma sessile, often conic; corolla lobes bifid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. Erycibeae
5. Style present; stigma on style, not sessile, mostly globose or otherwise not conic; corolla lobes entire or shallowly bifid.
6. Pollen echinate, pantoporate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . 9. Ipomoeeae
7. Pollen not echinate, colpate (except Calystegia & Xenostegia, where porate).
7. Stigmas globose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12. Merremieae
7. Stigmas subulate or ellipsoid and flattened.
8. Pollen prolate; sepals unequal (except in Iseia) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. Aniseieae
8. Pollen spheroidal; sepals more or less equal.
9. Fruits 24 valvate; stigma subulate, 2-lobed or dissected (Polymeria) . . . . . . . . . 3. Convolvuleae
9. Fruits 8 valvate; stigma ellipsoid & flattened . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10. Jacquemontieae
3. Styles 2 or at least bifid (if single, then plants lianas; fruits woody-baccate; stigma never sessile).
10. Fruit dehiscent, capsular; small shrubs, herbs, or less often lianas; filaments usually straight and glabrous .. . . . . 4. Cresseae
10. Fruits indehiscent (utricle or ligneous baccate); mat-forming herbs or lianas; filaments usually dilated and pubescent.
11. Fruits utricles; prostrate herbs or lianas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. Dichondreae
11. Fruits ligneous-baccate; lianas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11. Maripeae

Description of Family Convovulaceae

Tribe Argyrieae
Plants herbaceous, vines. Leaf base cordate or cuneate. Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual. Sepals
usually unequal, sometimes accrescent. Filaments dilated, pubescent. Stigmas usually elongate, rarely
globose. Fruits dehiscent, capsule, pericarp ligneous. Pollen 3-to polycolpate, prolate, non-echinate this
well-dened and supported segregate of Merremieae sensu is the rst lineage diverging within the
Convolvuloideae clade (Austin, 1982). Only ten (10) genus are present and native in the Philippines, the
Argyreia apoensis, Argyreia boholensis, Argyreia luzonensis, Argyreia philippinensis, Argyreia samarensis,
Argyreia nervosa
Argyreia apoensis
Stems twining, sparsely appressed-pilose, glabrescent. Leaves ovate, 6-10 by 3-6 cm, base truncate
or slightly cordate, apex acute to acuminate, upper surface glabrous, lower appressed- pilose, especially
along the nerves; nerves 6-8 on either side of midrib; petiole 2- 3 cm, appressed-pilose. Peduncles in the
upper leaf-axils, up to 9 cm long, appressed-pilose towards their apex with yellowish- grey hairs; cymes
umbellate, few-flowered. Pedicels 2-4 mm, rather densely appressed-pilose. Bracts 8-12 mm long, linear
to filiform, with a narrow acumen, hairy beneath, glabrous above. Sepals nearly equal in length, ca 6
mm long, densely appressed-pilose outside; 2 outer ones elliptic-oblong, obtuse, mucronulate; sepal 3
broader, with one glabrous margin; two inner sepals broadly
ovate to orbicular, with two glabrous margins. Corolla 5parted, whitish outside, purplish or violaceous inside; tube
ca 11 mm long, glabrous; lobes linear, recurved and twisted,
ca 24 by 3 mm; midpetaline bands sericeous outside towards
the apex, and there with two glabrous wings. Filaments with
slightly dilated, thick, papillose base. Ovary glabrous, 2celled.
This plant is widely distributed in Mindanao. Only
pressed specimen are available for observation
Figure 1. Herbarium specimen of Argyreia apoensis

Argyreia nervosa (Burm.f.) Bojer (Elephant Creeper)

Twining liana, without latex, attaining more than 5 m in length. Stems cylindrical, densely canescent
when young, becoming glabrous when mature. Leaves alternate; blades simple, , cordiform, coriaceous,
the apex obtuse to rounded, sometimes mucronate, the base cordiform, the margins entire; upper surface
dark, dull, glabrous, with the venation slightly sunken; lower surface densely canescent, with the pinnate
venation prominent; petioles 5-15 cm long, densely canescent. Flowers few, in axillary simple or double
dichasial cymes; bracts foliaceous, ovate, acuminate, 2-5 cm long, canescent on the lower surface,
forming an involucre at the base of the dichasia; peduncles densely canescent, up to 15 cm long. Calyx
crateriform, canescent, accrescent, of 5 ovate sepals, obtuse, mucronate, 1.5-2 cm long; corolla lavender,
dark violet in the throat, infundibuliform, 6-6.5 cm long, canescent outside, the limb with 5 slightly
prominent, rounded lobes; stamens and style not exserted. Indehiscent fruits ovoid, 1-1.5 cm long,
puberulous, the pericarp thick, subtended by the subwoody, persistent sepals, slightly shorter than the
fruit; seeds light brown, ca. 5 mm long, densely appressed short-pubescent, with two sides flat and one
convex, the hilum forming a navel.
Native to India, cultivated and naturalized in the Antilles and throughout the tropics. In laboratory
experiment, leaves, fruits and flowers of Argyreia nervosa has significant effects in mice. Large doses of
the extract of the said species cures the ulcer of the mice and also serve as aphrodisiac in the animal
model. Hence further experiment should be carried out in order to know if its effective to be used in
human.

Figure 2. Argyreia nervosa plant habit, flower inflorescence and leaf appearance and attachment

Argyreia boholensis
Stems twining, terete or upwards slightly angular, glabrous, pale greyish-brown. Leaves ovate or
ovate-oblong, 4-10 by 1-7 cm, rounded or very slightly cordate at the base, acute to shortly acuminate at
the apex, thinly coriaceous, in dry state greyish or olivaceous, glabrous, or with a few hairs on the nerves,

mainly on the midrib beneath; nerves 8-10 on either side of the midrib; petiole 2-3 cm, glabrous.
Pedicels of central flower ca 8-10 mm, of lateral flowers often shorter, glabrous. Bracts narrowly
triangular, with incurved apex, ca 2 mm long, glabrous. Sepals glabrous, coriaceous; 2 outer ones broadly
ovate-triangular, obtuse, 5 mm long, sepal 3 broadly ovate, obtuse, 5 mm long, with one broad thin
margin; two inner sepals broader than long, broadly rounded, concave, ca 4 mm long, with two broad
thinner margins. Corolla with deeply divided limb; lobes linear, reflexed and twisted, ca 18 mm long,
densely sericeous outside, at the apex with 2
triangular glabrous lobules; tube cylindric, ca 8 mm
long, glabrous. Filaments geniculate near their thick,
broadened base, pubescent. Ovary glabrous, 2-celled.
Young fruits oblong-ellipsoid, glabrous, ca 1 cm
long. This plant is mainly located in Bohol,
Philippines.

Fig.3 Herbarium specimens of Argyreia boholensis

i.

Argyreia philippinensis

Stems twining, terete, longitudinally wrinkled in dry state, very sparsely appressed-pilose,
glabrescent, pale greyish-brown. Leaves ovate to ovate-oblong, rounded to truncate at the base, or in
narrow leaves acute to cuneate; acuminate or attenuate towards the acute apex; glabrous on both sides
except for a few scattered hairs, mainly along the nerves and especially beneath; nerves 5-7 on either side
of the midrib; secondary nerves parallel; petiole very sparsely pilose like the stems and the peduncles.
Pedicels 2-5 mm, sparsely hairy. Bracts triangular, small, 1-2 mm long. Sepals about equal in length,
ca4 mm long; two outer ones ovate-elliptic; inner ones broader, all obtuse; outer ones with some scattered
hairs on their middle portion or glabrous. Corolla tubular, ca 1-2 cm long, white; limb very shortly
lobed; midpetaline bands with appressed hairs outside, for the rest glabrous. Dilated base of filaments
with

hairs

along

the

margins.

Fruit is ovoid. This plant is distributed in largely in Luzon specifically in Catanduanes.

Figure 4.

Argyreia philippinensis Flower and leaves

Tribe Ipomoeae

Plants vines or lianas, rarely small trees. Leaf baseusually cordate. Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual.
Sepals equal, sometimes accrescent. Filaments dilated, pubescent. Style one, entire. Stigmas globose.
Fruits dehiscent, capsule, or indehiscent, eshy. Pollen echinate, pantoporate. included genera natively
found in the Philippines :Argyreia Lour. (SE Asia, N Austra-lia), Ipomoea L. (Americas, Africa, Asia,
Aus-tralia)
Ipomoeeae s.l. follows entirely the original Halliers (1893) idea of sub-family Echinoconiae (nom.
illeg.), including all Convolvulaceae genera with echinate, pantoporate pollen. Hallier subdivided this
taxon into two tribes: (1) Argyreieae, characterized by indehiscent, eshy fruit, and (2) Ipomoeeae, with
dry, capsular fruit. Two majorclades, both well supported, are resolved within the spiny-pollen group
according to both nuclear (Manoset al. 2001; Miller et al. 2002)

Ipomoea indica (Burm.) Merr. (Blue Dawn Flower)

Herbaceous vine, twining, 2-5 m in length, with abundant milky latex. Stems slender,
glabrous, cylindrical, smooth, greenish. Leaves alternate; blades 6-11 4-8 cm, glabrous, ovate or
trilobed, chartaceous, the apex acute or shortacuminate, the base cordiform, the margins entire;
upper surface with the venation slightly prominent; lower surface with prominent venation,
glabrous or puberulous; petioles 6-12 cm long, cylindrical, glabrous. Flowers solitary or in simple
dichasial cymes, axillary. Calyx green, accrescent, glabrous, the sepals subequal, 15-18 mm long,
lanceolate, chartaceous, longacuminate at the apex; corolla violet-pink with the center darker,
infundibuliform, 5-7 cm long, the limb ca. 7 cm in diameter, with 5 rounded lobes; stamens not
exserted; stigmas white, slightly exserted. Capsule globose, 10-15 cm in diameter, subtended by

the accrescent sepals, subwoody; seeds black, elliptic-triangular, ca. 5 mm long, smooth, with a
line of hairs at the margins. Locations within which Ipomoea indica is naturalised include the
coastal districts of eastern Australia, southern Europe, southern New Zealand, southern USA,
Pacific islands and eastern and southern Africa. Ipomoea indica has been widely cultivated as a
garden ornamental.

Figure 3. Ipomoea indica plant habit and floral appearance and inflorescence
Ipomoea aculeata var. mollissima
Fast-growing vigorous vine. Vine stem diameters to 3 cm recorded. Bark exudate watery. Included
bark visible as curved segments in transverse sections of the stem. Stems somewhat fluted with a
twisted appearance. Leaf blades cordate with the apex drawn out into a long point. Leaf blades about
7-13 x 5-11 cm, petioles about 3-11.5 cm long. Stems, petioles and both the upper and lower leaf blade
surfaces clothed in pale hairs. Stems clothed in small but hard spines. Stems and petioles produce a
clear exudate. Flowers pleasantly perfumed when fresh. Outer sepals about 20 x 18 mm, inner sepals
much smaller. Corolla about 12-13 x 7 cm diam. at the apex. Corolla tube pale green on the outer
surface, expanded section mainly white except for the pale green lobe-like sections. Corolla tube
glabrous on the outer surface but hairy on the inner surface at least near the point of attachment of the
stamens. Stamens attached about half way up the corolla tube, filaments about 2.5-3 cm long, clothed
in white hairs at least towards the base. Pollen grains white, minutely spinulose. Disk thick, white and
fleshy, surrounding the base of the ovary. Style about 9-10 cm long. Stigma +/- globular, multilobed
and papillose. Fruits enclosed in persistent sepals, each sepal about 16 mm long. Fruits globose, about
12-15 mm diam. Seeds 2-4 per fruit, testa densely clothed in woolly pale brown hairs. Seeds about 7
mm long. Hairs about 10 mm long. Endosperm very hard. Cotyledons crumpled and folded in a
complex fashion. Radicle about 3 mm long, much narrower than the cotyledons. Can be found in
Bangladesh, Myanmar, China (Hainan), Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia. For
ornamental purposes.

Figure 4. Ipomoea aculeata var. mollissima actual plant habit and herbaria specimens showing leaf
arrangement, habit and floral inflorescence and appearance
Ipomoea alba L. (Moon flower)
Annual or perennial vine, sprawling along ground or climbing trees or any supports, stems up to
10 m long, hairless, climbing stems have numerous projections for support. Leaves alternate, 1020 5
16 cm, petioles 518 cm long, blades ovoid, margins smooth, or 3-lobed with pointy tips. Inflorescence
one or more-flowered, peduncles 124 cm long, bracts, small, short lasting; flowers fragrant, from leaf
axils, opening in the evening and withering in the morning (hence moonflower), trumpet-shaped, long
and narrow, greenish-white floral tube, 715 cm long, 5 large white spreading lobes 1015 cm wide,
sepals 520 mm long, elliptic to ovoid; 5 stamens and 1 style extending from the flower tube. Fruit is a
capsule, ovoid with pointed tip, 2.53 cm long, brown to black; seeds 4, whitish colour, hairless, 10 mm.
Coastal areas of Florida, Louisiana and Texas, across Mexico, Caribbean, all Central America,
Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and northern Argentina. Found in cultivation which it escapes frequently
and secondarily occurring in southern China, Thailand, Indonesia, southern Japan, New Guinea,
Philippines, Sri Lanka and even on Pacific islands. For ornamental purposes.

Figure 4. Ipomoea alba L. actual plant habit showing leaf arrangement, habit and floral inflorescence and
appearance
Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. (Water Spinach)
Creeping or floating aquatic herbs, stems hollow, rooting at the nodes. Leaves alternate,
varies in form, usually oblong-lanceate or narrowly triangular, 5-10 by 2-6 cm, base hastate, apex
acute; petiole 6-10 cm long. Flowers purplish-white, solitary or few in cymes. Sepals subequal, 68 mm long, oblong-lanceolate, membranous, glabrous. Corolla funnel-form, c. 5 cm long, pale
purple to nearly white, tube to 2 cm long, lobes obscure. Stamens included, filaments unequal,
hairy at the base. Ovary glabrous. Capsule globose; seeds 4 or 2, minutely pubescent. Can be
found in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China (nationwide), India (nationwide), Laos, Myanmar, Nepal,
Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and Philippines. Vegetative parts of the plant is use as a food

Figure 4. Ipomoea aquatica actual plant habit and herbaria specimens showing leaf arrangement, habit and
floral inflorescence and appearance

Ipomoea batatas (L.) Poir.

Creeping vine, with the younger portions twining and ascending, 3-4 m in length, with
abundant milky latex. Roots tuberous, edible. Stems cylindrical, slender, flexible, glabrous or
pubescent, usually producing aerial roots in the area of the nodes. Leaves alternate; blades simple
or 3-7-lobed, 6-13 6-10 cm, when simple broadly ovate, deltoid, chartaceous, glabrous, the
apex acute, obtuse, or acuminate, mucronulate, the base cordiform, lyrate, or truncate, the
margins entire; upper surface dark green, dull; lower surface pale green, with prominent venation;

petioles 5-12 cm long, glabrous. Flowers few, in axillary dichasial cymes; peduncle cylindrical, 712 cm long. Calyx green, not accrescent, the sepals oblong, unequal, 8-12 mm long, aristate at the
apex; corolla violet-pink, infundibuliformcampanulate, 3-4.5 cm long, the limb ca. 4 cm in
diameter, with 5 rounded lobes; stamens and stigmas not exserted. Capsules depressed-globose,
ca. 5 mm long, pilose; seeds black, dull, puberulous, ca. 3.5 mm long, with two sides flat and one
convex. Cultivated throughout China, sometimes persisting from cultivation, but doubtfully
naturalized [Indonesia, Japan (Ryuyu Islands), Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, New Guinea, Pakistan,
Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Africa, Australia, North America, Pacific Islands,
South America, cultivated worldwide] Food, Root/tuber, Beverage (alcoholic), Beverage (nonalcoholic)

Figure 4. Ipomoea batatas L. actual plant habit showing leaf arrangement, habit and floral inflorescence and
appearance. Also illustrated the tuberous root

Ipomoae campanulata L.
Tambarvel is a large shrubby climber, 10-20 m long. The stout stems twine and climb to
tree tops. Alternately arranged ovate leaves are 6-15 cm long. Flowers occur in branched, manyflowered cymes. The 8-10 cm size flowers are broadly bell shaped. The flowers are white to pale
violet, with a deep purple throat. The petals are rounded with crisp margins. It is found in India,
Sri Lanka, Andaman Isls, Thailand, Indochina, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Java, Borneo,
Philippines, Sulawesi, Lesser Sunda Isls (Bali), Moluccas (Seram), New Guinea (Papua). This
plant is cultivated for ornamental purposes because of its unique flowers.

Figure 4. Ipomoea campanulata L. actual plant habit showing leaf arrangement, habit and floral
inflorescence and appearance.

Ipomoea muricata (L.) Jac.q

Tunkin is a smooth, climbing vine. Stems are rough, with small tuberculous outgrowths or
prickles. Leaves are smooth, soft, heart-shaped, 5 to 10 centimeters long, and tapering abruptly into a
narrow point at the tip. Flowers are large, 5 to 6 centimeters long, pale purple, and borne singly or in
small-stalked clusters resembling the morning glory. Fruit is rounded, 10 to 15 millimeters in
diameter. Seeds are polished, black, and smooth. This plant is introduced from tropical America and
found in cultivation in Pampanga and Luzon. In the Philippines, seeds are used for wound healing.
Also juice of the plant used as insecticide and for destroying bedbugs.

Figure 4. Ipomoea muricata L. actual plant habit showing leaf arrangement, habit and floral
inflorescence and appearance.
Ipomoea triloba L
I. triloba is a herbaceous, annual twining vine with milky sap, simple leaves and pink to pale-purple funnelshaped flowers. Stems prostrate and twining, usually much branched, 1-3 m long, glabrous or
sometimes sparsely pubescent, more densely pubescent on the nodes. Leaves simple, alternate,
petiolate; leaf blades broadly ovate to orbicular, 2-12 cm long and 2-10 cm broad, bases cordate;
leaf

margins

entire,

coarsely

dentate,

or

deeply

3-5

lobed. (Austin,

1978)

Inflorescences axillary, with dense several-flowered cymes, occasionally 1-flowered; peduncles 110 cm long, stout, angular, glabrous, minutely verruculose toward the apex. I. triloba was originally
a native of tropical America, but is now pantropical. This weed is considered as a pest because it
competes with crop plants for nutrients and water

Figure 4. Ipomoea triloba L . Actual plant habit showing leaf arrangement, habit and floral inflorescence
and appearance.

Ipomoea rubens Choisy

Perennial twining climber, up to 4 m long. All parts densely short-pilose. Leaves
broadly ovate to circular, rarely 3-lobed. Inflorescences 1-few-flowered. Corolla funnel-shaped,
mauve to purple with a darker centre. Capsule spherical, glabrous. It is widely distributed in
Guianas, tropical Africa, Madagascar and adjacent islands, Malesia: Sumatra, Java, Borneo,
Philippines, Sulawesi, Lesser Sunda Isls (Bali). LUZON: Laguna, MINDANAO: Lanao,
Cotabato. Thickets in and bordering freshwater swamps.

Figure 4. Ipomoea rubens L . Actual plant habit showing leaf arrangement, habit and floral
inflorescence and appearance.

Ipomoea mauritiana Jacq.

Aurorang-gubat is a large, smooth, perennial climber rising from stout, somewhat
fleshy roots. Leaves are on long petioles, rounded in outline, and heart-shaped at the base. Lobes
are 5 to 7, usually lanceolate, 5 to 15 centimeters long, often reaching nearly to the base. Flowers
are 3 to 5, on a stalk in the leaf axil. Sepals are ovate, concave, and 1 centimeter long. Corolla is
pink, purple, broadly bell-shaped, smooth and about 6 centimeters long. Capsules are ovoid, 1
centimeter long or less. This plant is pantropic and found in La Union, Bulacan, Bataan, and Rizal
Provinces in Luzon; and in Culion, Coron, and Mindanao. In India the tuberous roots are
considered high value in traditional medicine. They are used in many formulations with other
plants, but also as single drug. Different preparations are taken as an aphrodisiac, cardiotonic,
demulcent, diuretic, refrigerant, galactagogue and general tonic. They are used against
emaciation, enteric fever and spermatorhoea.
Figure 4. Ipomoea rubens L . Actual plant habit showing
leaf arrangement, habit and floral inflorescence and appearance.

Merremieae
Plants herbaceous, vines. Leaf base usually cordate. Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual. Filaments
dilated, usually pubescent. Styles entire. Stigmas globose. Fruits dehiscent, capsular, valvate to
operculate. Pericarp chartaceous. Pollen 3-colpate or pantoporate, non-echinate. Merremieae were treated
initially as an informal assemblage of taxa, the merremioids, and were formally recognized only
recently (Austin 1982). This reected the lack of dening morphological characters for this group which
was dened as lacking some characters used to circumscribe other tribes (e.g., spiny pollen), rather than
by their own putative synapomorphies. (Stefanovic et al.2002). Even after exclusion of a subset of genera
circumscribed presently in tribe Aniseieae the tribe Merremieae s.s. seems not to be monophyletic (Austin
1982).

Merremia emarginata (Burm.f.) Hallier F.

Kupit-kupit is a perennial, slender, prostate, creeping, smooth or somewhat hairy herb.
Stems roots at the nodes, and are 10 to 80 centimeters in length. Leaves are small, kidney-shaped
to somewhat heart-shaped, 6 to 15 millimeters long, often wider than long, and irregularly
toothed. Flowers, one to three, occur in short stalks in the axils of leaves. Sepals are rounded,
about 4 millimeters long, with few to many white, weak hairs. Corolla is yellow, nearly twice as
long as the calyx. Capsule is rounded and about 5 millimeters in diameter. It is widely distributed
in dry, open grasslands and waste places at low altitudes in Rizal and Bataan Provinces in Luzon.
Also occurs in tropical Africa, Asia, and Malaya. In India, leaves eaten as greens. Young leaves
are fried with groundnut oil and other spices and used with bread, called "Roti" made from
Sorghum flour. Leaves are also used in soups. While in the Philippines, decoction of leaves and
tops are used as diuretics

Figure 4. Merremia

emarginata plant

habit showing leaf

arrangement,
morphology, floral inflorescence and appearance

Merremia gemella (Burm.f.) Hallier F

Herbs, twining or prostrate; axial parts smooth, appressed yellowish pubescent. Stems
often rooting at nodes and internodes. Petiole 1.5-6 cm, rarely minutely tuberculate; leaf blade
often ovate, 2.5-6.5 X 1.5-4.3 cm, glabrous or short pilose, base broadly cordate, proximal margin
entire, undulate or coarsely crenate, sometimes 3-lobed, apex attenuate, mucronulate.
Inflorescences umbelliform or forked with short racemelike branches, few flowered; peduncle
2.5-10 cm; bracts early deciduous, minute. Pedicel 3-6 mm. Sepals broadly obovate to circular,
unequal, margin scarious, emarginate, slightly mucronulate or not, slightly enlarged in fruit;
outer 2 abaxially pilose, 4-6 mm; inner 3 subglabrous, 6-7 mm. Corolla yellow, campanulate to
funnelform, 1.5-2 cm, midpetaline bands dark, glabrous outside; limb shallowly 5-lobed; lobes
emarginate and mucronulate. Filaments pubescent basally. Ovary glabrous. This plant is wodely
distributed in southeast Asia to tropical Australia.

Figure 4. Merremia gemella plant habit showing leaf arrangement, morphology, floral inflorescence and
appearance

Merremia peltata (L.) Merr

Bulakan is a coarse and widely spreading woody vine. Stems are 5 or more centimeters
thick, and porous. Leaves are alternate, smooth, somewhat rounded, about 20 centimeters wide,
those toward the ends of the branchlets being much smaller, heart-shaped at the base, pointed at
the tip. Peduncle grows solitary from each of the upper leaf axils, erect and longer than the
leaves. Flowers are large, golden-yellow, few to many, or clustered. Sepals are smooth, thick,
oblong, 2 centimeters long. Corolla has a wide limb. It is common in secondary forests at low and
medium altitudes in the Babuyan Islands (Camiguin); Laguna, Quezon, Camarines, Sorsogon
Provinces in Luzon; in Mindoro, Palawan, Balabac, Samar, Leyte, Panay, and Mindanao. Also
occurs in southwestern Asia to tropical Australia and Polynesia. In Malaya, tubers reported to be
edible, but may have a purgative effect. While in the Philippines, sap from the stem taken as
anthelmintic. Infusion of roots used for chills.

Figure 4. Merremia peltata plant habit showing leaf arrangement, morphology, floral inflorescence and
appearance
Merremia umbellata (L.) Hallier F.
Kalamitmit is a twining, herbaceous, more or less hairy vine, with slender stems. Leaves
are oblong to oblong-ovate, 8 to 12 centimeters long, pointed at the tip and heart-shaped at the
base. Inflorescence bears many flowers, and is borne in the axils of the leaves. Sepals are about 6
millimeters long. Corolla is white or yellow, tubular and funnel-shaped, about 3 centimeters long;
limb is about 2.5 centimeters in diameter. Capsule is ovoid, smooth, about 1 centimeter long.
Seeds are covered with spreading, black or brown hairs. This plant is pantropical and distributed
throughout the Philippines, in thickets at medium altitudes. Young leaves can be eaten if mix with
other vegetables and also the pounded leaves is used as poultice for burns and scalds.

Figure 4. Merremia

umbellata plant habit

showing leaf

arrangement,
morphology, floral inflorescence and appearance

Merremia vitifolia (Burm F.) Hallier F.

Lakmit is a hairy, woody climber with slender stems. Leaves are rounded, 5 to 15
centimeters wide, palmately 5-lobed, and heart-shaped at the base. Sepals are hairy, ovate, 10 to
15 millimeters in length, and longer in the fruit. Corolla is yellow, bell-shaped, and 3.5 to 4
centimeters long. Capsule is rounded and 10 to 15 centimeters in diameter. Seeds are dark brown,
smooth, about 5 millimeters in diameter. It is found in the Laguna Province in Luzon; and in
Palawan, Balabac, Semirara, and Negros, in open grasslands by deserted dwellings, and in
thickets at low altitudes and also occurs in southeastern Asia and Malaya. The unripe fruits are
edible and In Peninsular Malaysia, infusion is drunk for high fever.

Figure 4. Merremia vitifolia plant habit showing leaf arrangement, morphology, floral inflorescence and
appearance

Tribe Erycibeae
Plants woody, lianas. Leaf base not cordate. Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual. Sepals equal, nonaccrescent. Corolla lobes deeply divided. Filaments straight, glabrous. Styles absent. Stigmas sessile,
conic. Fruits in-dehiscent, ligneous, baccate. Pollen 3-colpate, non echinate. This genus is both welldened by morphological characters and molecular data (Stefanovic et al. 2002). How-ever, its
relationship with other tribes of Convolvulaceae is equivocal Regardless whether Erycibeae and
Cardiochlamyeae are conrmed to be suc-cessive lineages diverging within the family after Humbertieae
(as suggested by cpDNA data) (Stefanovic et al. 2002).
Operculina turpethum (L.) S Manso
Bangbagau is an herbaceous, somewhat hairy vine reaching a length of 5 meters or more. Stems are
often purplish, prominently 2- to 4-angled, and narrowly winged. Leaves are entire, ovate, 5 to 15
centimeters long, narrowing to a pointed tip, broad and somewhat heart-shaped or straight at the
base.Inflorescences have few straight flowers and are borne in the axils of the leaves. Sepals are green,
and are ovate to oblong-ovate, the outer two are 2 to 3 centimeters long, larger than the inner three, hairy
and somewhat fleshy and about 4 centimeters long, with the limb 4 centimeters wide. Capsule is rounded,
about 1 to 1.5 centimeter in diameter, usually containing 4 black, smooth seeds. Found in the Batan
Islands; in Ilocos Norte, Bontoc, Lepanto, La Union, Rizal, Laguna, and Batangas Provinces in Luzon; in
Balabac, Culion, Palawan, Cebu, Ticao, and Mindanao, in waste places and thickets at low and medium
altitudes. In the Philippines, the root, pulverized or in an alcoholic tincture, used as a drastic purgative.
Widely grown throughout India, cultivated for ornamental purposes.

Figure 4. Operculina turpethum plant habit showing leaf arrangement, morphology, floral inflorescence
and appearance

Operculina riedeliana Ooststr.

Unresolve plant species. Large climber, glabrous; stems subwoody, to 10 m long, smooth or
minutely warty. Leaves broadly ovate to orbicular, rarely oblong or narrowly oblong, 818 by 36(
15) cm, often drying reddish brown, base cordate, subcordate to truncate, apex abruptly acuminate,
mucronulate; lateral veins 7 or 8 per side; petiole slender, 210 cm, terete. Inflorescences 1 to
several-flowered; peduncles stout, 211 cm, base terete, flattish apically; bracts oblong, 1015 mm
long, scarious; pedicels clavate, 1020(30) mm long, thickened in fruit. Flowers showy; sepals
broadly elliptic to orbicular, subequal, 1317 mm long, apex broadly rounded or emarginate, in fruit
calyx c. 20 mm long, enclosing capsule; corolla broadly funnelform, 45 cm long, pale yellow (rarely
white), midpetaline bands densely hairy outside; stamens included, filaments pubescent below
insertion; pistil included. This plant is widely distributed in Ilocus Norte, La Union, Bataan, Rizal and
Cebu.

Figure 4. Operculina riedeliana plant habit showing leaf arrangement, morphology, floral inflorescence
and appearance
Hewittia malabarica (L.) Suresh
Prostrate or twining perennial herb. Leaves oblong or ovate, up to 14 cm long, variably
cordate or hastate at the base, velvety or hairy on both surfaces; margin entire or dentate. Flowers
in 1-3-flowered clusters. Corolla pale yellow or whitish with a dark purple-red centre. Capsule
depressed-spherical to almost square, hairy, crowned with the persistent style. This plant can be
found throughout the Philippines in open grasslands and waste places, low and medium altitudes,
often common.

Figure 4. Hewittia malabarica plant habit showing leaf arrangement, morphology, floral inflorescence
and appearance
________________________________________________________________________________
SOLANACEAE
The plant family Solanaceae, has world-wide distribution and many of its species such as potato,
tomato, capsicum and egg-plant are of considerable economic importance. Other representatives are of
horticultural importance e.g. Petunia, while still others are important for their pharmacological properties
and for their use within various cultures e.g. Nicotiana, Datura, Solanum. Solanaceae consisted of 206
taxa in 23 genera; 140 of these taxa were native and 66 introduced in the Philippines and other countries
(Castro, 2006)
Solanaceae has herbs to shrubs trees, 4-ranked lateral roots (diarch) leaves simple to compound
branching/leaf insertion in inflorescence distinctive; the inflorescence is generally cymose and axillary,
but may be reduced to a single flower. The flowers are bisexual, usually radially symmetric, flowers 4
merous; anthers often dehiscing by pores, or connate and pollen exiting communal apical hole,
Gynoecium [(-5)], oblique, stigma capitate or peltate, wet; ovules usually compose of many carpel.
Solanaceae produces alkaloids as a secondary metabolite which has an intense physiological action even
at low doses. Example of which are Solanine, Tropanes, Nicotine and Capsaicin. (Hawkes, 1979)
The following taxonomic synopsis of the Solanaceae, including subfamilies, tribes and genera, is
based on the most recent molecular phylogenetics studies of the family cited from Olmstead and Soltis
stated as follows which is only present in the Philippines:

Order Solanales
Family Solanaceae
1.

2.

3.

Cestroideae
o Tribe Cestreae Don.
Cestrum elegans
Cestrum nocturnum L
Nicotianoideae
o Tribe Nicotianeae Dum.
Nicotiana tabacum L.
Solanoideae
o Tribe Capsiceae Dumort
Capsicum frutescens L
Capsicum annuum L.
Lycianthes biflora
Lycianthes levis

o
o

Tribe Daturaeae Don.

Datura metel L
Tribe Physalinae (Miers) Hunz.
Physalis angulata L
Physalis minima L
Physalis peruviana L
Tribe Solaneae

Solanum americanum

Solanum athroanthum
Solanum cyanocarphium
Solanum erianthum
Solanum lasiocarpum
Solanum luzoniense
Solanum lycopersicum
Solanum tuberosum

Key to the tribes of Solanaceae

1. Anthers connivent. forming a cone (2)
1. Anthers not connivent (6)
2. Anther dehiscence porose. (3)
2. Anther dehiscence longitudinal. (4)
3 (2) Flowers cymose. Calyx 5 ribbed. Leaves usually compound or margin not entire . Solanum
3. Flowers fasciculate. Calyx 10ribbed. Leaves simple, usually entire
4 Leaves imparipinnately compund. Fruit succulent

Lycianthes
Lycopersicon

4 Leaves entire. Fruit dry 5

5 (4) Flowers campanulate, in axillary clusters of more than three. Fruiting calyx enlarged and completel
yenclosing the Fruit .......................................................................................... . Withania
5 Flowers rotate, 12(3) axillary. Fruiting calyx not enclosing the fruit . Capsicum
6 (1) Fruit capsular .(7)
6 Fruit baccate.. (11)
7 (6) Capsule dehiscence operculate . (8)
7 Capsule dehiscence by valves (9)
8 (7) Flowers spicate or in racemes ..Hyoscyamus
8 Flowers in terminal corymbs ..Physochlaina
9 (7) Flowers paniculate or in racemes . Nicotiana
9 Flowers solitary (10)
10 (9) Capsules ovoid to subglobose, 3040 mm long, spiny or tuberculate .. Datura
10 Capsule narrow ovoid, up to 10 mm long, smooth Petunia
11 (6) Plants shrubby, armed or unarmed .(12)
11 Plants herbaceous, unarmed. (13)
12 (11) Armed shrubs. Stamens attached at the base of the corolla tube .. Lycium
12 Unarmed shrubs. Stamens attached near the throat of corolla tube 1.. Cestrum
13 Fruiting calyx 3angled, completely enclosing the berry. Flowers solitary.Physal

Description of Family Solanaceae

Cestroideae
This subfamily is characterised by the presence of pericyclic fibres, an androecium with four or five
stamens, frequently didynamous. The Cestrum genus is the most important, as it contains 175 of the 195 species
in the subfamily. Only 2 species are cultivated and naturalized in the Philippines, Cestrum elegans Schltdl and
Cestrum norturne L. It is clear from the phylogenetic analysis that the Cestroideae are the ancestral subfamiliy of
Solanaceae
Cestrum elegans Schltdl.

A shrub usually growing 1-3 m tall, but occasionally reaching up to 5 m in height. Its younger stems and
leaves are densely covered in reddish or purplish hairs. Its alternately arranged leaves (7-11.5 cm long) quickly
lose most of their hairs. Its tubular flowers are arranged in dense clusters at the tips of the branches or in the
upper leaf forks. These red, reddish-pink, pink or purplish flowers (15-23 mm long) have hairless petals. Its
rounded berries (8-13 mm across) turn dark pink or dull red as they mature. Native to N and S. America,
naturalized and cultivated in Mountain Province. Cestrum species are been use as food and food condiments
Figure
1.

Cestrum elegans leaf (left side) and tubular red

flower
(right side)

Cestrum norturne L.

Dama de noche is an erect and climbing ornamental smooth shrub, about 2 to 3 meters in height,
with long often-drooping branches. Leaves are oblong-ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 8 to 10 centimeters long,
pointed at the tips. Flowers are numerous, slender, yellowish-green, borne in lax, axillary and terminal
inflorescences, widely cultivated in the Philippines for its sweet-scented flowers that bloom at night.
Introduced from Tropical America. Studies have suggested antibacterial, antioxidant,
mosquitocidal, piscicidal, antitumor, anti-diabetic properties.
Figure
2.

Cestrum norturne L. leaf (left) and white flower (right)

Nicotianoideae Miers
This subfamily is characterized by pericyclic fibers, valvate-supervolute shaped corolla, and weakly
accrescent calyx, 4 androecium with staminodes present, capsule fruit and straight to curved embryo shape.
Usually compose of 8 genera and 125 species located on Australia, North and South America and Africa. Only 1
genera of Nicotianoideae are being cultivated in making tobacco, the Nicotiana tabacum L.
Nicotiana tabacum L.
Tabako is a coarse, erect, viscidly-hairy annual herb growing to a height of 0.7 to 1.5 meters. Leaves are
large, elliptic-ovate to oblong or obovate, 10 to 30 centimeters long or longer, narrowed by the base, and sessile
or short-stalked. Inflorescences are terminal. Calyx is green, ovoid or tubular, 1 to 1.5 centimeters long, with five
triangular lanceolate teeth. Corolla is white and pink, linear, funnel-shaped and about 5 centimeters long.
Capsule is ovoid, 1.5 to 2 centimeters long, with very numerous white seeds.
Cultivated throughout the Philippines. A major commercial crop in some provinces. Native of tropical
America now planted in all warm countries. Tabaco is used for smoking (cigarettes), and also fresh leaves used
as poultices as sedative and maturative. Decoction of dried leaves used in enemas for expelling certain intestinal
worms.

Figure 3. Nicotiana tabacum L. Flower (left side). Also included the habit and leaf (right side)

Solanoideae
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, potato, eggplant or aubergine, chili or bell peppers, mandrakes, and jimson weed.
This subfamily consists of several well-established tribes: Capsiceae, Datureae, Physaleae, and Solaneae which
is only found and cultivated in the Philippines. Solanoideae are usually herbs to small trees; aestivation valvate
corolla, cochlear or contorted. Androecium 5-merous (rarely 4-merous). Fruit mostly a berry but also schizocarp
and less frequently drupe, diclesium or pixidium. Seeds flattened.
Tribe Capsiceae
Shrubs, trees, or perennial herbs. Flowers solitary or in fascicle pauciflowered. Calyx entire, truncate,
with 010 linear nerve prolongations (teeth); corolla rotate or stellate, rarely campanulate, aestivation valvate.
Calyx not accrescent. Endosperm copious.
Capsicum frutescens L.
Siling-labuyo is an erect, branched and half-woody plant, growing to a height of 0.8 to 1.5 meters.
Leaves are oblong-ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 3 to 10 centimeters long, and pointed at the tip. Flowers are solitary
or several in each axil, stalked, pale green or yellowish-green, and 8 to 9 millimeters in diameter. Fruit is
commonly red when ripe, oblong-lanceolate, 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters long. Seeds are numerous and discoid.
Found throughout the Philippines, planted there and there about dwellings, but also thoroughly
established in open, waste places in settled areas. Native of tropical America, now pantropic. Fruit is a popular

condiment. Mixed with or made into pickles, and is a principle ingredient in Indian curries. The leaves are used
as vegetable, with a very pleasant and somewhat piquant flavor.

Figure 5. Capsicum frutescens L. flower (Left side) and its habit, leaf arrangement, floral inflorescence
and fruit (right sides)

Capsicum annuum L.
Much-branched annual or short-lived perennial herb, up to 1.5 m tall, widely cultivated for its edible fruit
ovate to narrowly lanceolate, 2.5-10 cm long, dark green, thinly textured to somewhat leathery, hairless except
for scattered hairs in the axils of veins below; margin more or less entire, wavy. Flowers mostly solitary, white to
greenish or bluish-white, drooping. Fruit very variable in shape, size, colour and taste.
Cultivated in S. America, cultivated and naturalized in some countries including Philippines. Food and
food condiments such as hot sauce. Red pepper is a powerful local irritant, heart stimulant, and general
stimulant; also considered stomachic and tonic.

Figure 6. Capsicum annuum L. leaf and habit (left side), floral parts and fruit
on the right side

Lycianthes biflora Mejiro-hozuki

Shrubs or subshrubs; pubescence yellowish, of simple, leaf blade dimorphic; blade of major leaf ellipticovate, , sparsely pubescent adaxially, denser abaxially, base cuneate, apex acute or acuminate; blade of minor
leaf broadly ovate, , base broadly rounded and decurrent, apex acute. Inflorescences several-flowered fascicles in
leaf axils.. Calyx cup-shaped, 10-dentate; teeth linear-subulate, 2-3 mm. Corolla pale purple or white, often
drying dark, stellate, 8-; lobes lanceolate,. Fruiting calyx densely pubescent with simple and branched hairs;
teeth elongate, 3-3.5 mm. Berry red, globose, 6-9 mm in diam. Seeds numerous, pale yellow, ovate to subdeltate,
ca. 2 1.5 mm, reticulate.
Widely distributed in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Guinea, Philippines, and Thailand.
Cultivated and naturalized in BATANES, LUZON: Benguet, Rizal, Laguna, Sorsogon, CATANDUANES,
PALAWAN, MINDANAO: Zamboanga, Misamis, Lanao del Sur,

Figure 7. Lycianthes biflora habit, leaf arrangement and fruit position (left side). Flower

inflorescence and

morphology are represented on the right side

Lycianthes laevis Dunal

Shrubs, glabrescent or pubescent with simple hairs. Stem puberulent. Leaves unequal paired;; blade of
major leaf elliptic, , membranous, sparsely pubescent or glabrescent adaxially, glabrous abaxially, puberulent
along veins, base cuneate, margin entire, apex acuminate; blade of minor leaf resembling that of major leaf,.
Inflorescences 2-7-flowered axillary fascicles. Calyx cup-shaped, apex entire, Corolla purple or white with
purple apex, stellate, ca. 8 mm; lobes lanceolate-elliptic, ca. 5 1.2 mm, glabrescent. Filaments ca. 0.5 mm;
anthers oblong. Style slender, 7-8 mm. Berry globose, 5-6 mm in diam., glabrous. Seeds ovate, discoid. Widely
distributed in the Philippines particularly in Agusan del Norte prov., Cabadbaran, Mt Urdaneta among boulders
along streamlet near Catangan River, 3000ft,

Figure 8. Lycianthes laevis leaf arrangement and floral inflorescence as stated above
Tribe Daturaeae
Herbs, shrubs or small trees. Flowers solitary, large; corolla aestivation contorted-conduplicate; anthers
basifixed, pubescent, dehiscence latrorse or extrorse. Embryo annular; cotyledons shorter than rest of embryo;
endosperm scarcely copious , rich in protein
Datura metel. L.
Talong-punay is a coarse, erect, branched, smooth or slightly hairy shrub or short-lived shrub, 0.5 to 2
meters high. Leaves are single, ovate to oblong-ovate, 9 to 18 centimeters long, with inequilateral base, pointed
tip and irregularly and shallowly lobed margins. Flowers are white or nearly purple, axillary and solitary, with a
large ovary. Calyx is green, about 6 centimeters long, cleft at the apex, cylindric and divided into linear teeth.
Corolla is white, about 15 centimeters long and the mouth about 8 centimeters in diameter, trumpet-shaped when
fully opened. Stamens are 5, stigma 2-fid. Fruits are rounded capsules, green, about 3.5 centimeters in diameter
and covered with stout, short spines, dehiscing at the apex when ripe forming an irregular suture. Seeds are
numerous, closely packed, nearly smooth, and pale brown.
In open, waste places in and about settlements, throughout the Philippines. Also cultivated also for
ornamental purposes. Native of tropical Asia now pantropic in distribution. Leaves used a lot in resolutive and
mitigant poultices. Smoked like stramonium in cases of dyspnea produced by asthma. Seeds and roots have the
same uses; some considered the seeds to be more potent.

Figure 9. Datura metel leaf shape, habit, floral inflorescence and fruits
Tribe Physalideae Miers
Mostly shrubs, small trees or perennial herbs. Flowers in axillary fascicles; corolla aestivation usually
valvate, rarely contorted; stapet frequently present, inconspicuous or conspicuous, with or without basal auricles.
Embryo subcoiled to strongly bent.
Physalis angulata L
Putokan is an erect and branching herb with angled and much branched stems, growing to 1 meter high.
Petioles are 1 to 5 centimeters long. Leaves are alternate, oblong-ovate, up to 9 centimeters long with pointed
tips and acute and unequal base with margins that are more or less entire. Flowers are solitary, campanulate, pale
yellow, up to 6 millimeters long. Fruit is a berry, 1.5 to 2 centimeters diameter surrounded by an inflated and
ovoid calyx.
Native to tropical America. Introduced to the Philippines during the Spanish times, now widely
distributed. Propagated by seeds. Some tribes consider the fruits and leaves to be narcotic: decoction of leaves
used as antiinflammatory and skin disinfectant.

Figure 10. Physalis angulata leaf arrangement, morphology, and fruits

Physalis minima L.
Pantug-pantugan is an erect, branched, hairy annual herb, growing 0.5 to 0.8 meter high. The branches
are terete and often tinged with purple; the ultimate ones slightly angular. Leaves are ovate, 6 to 12 centimeters
long, 4.5 to 7 centimeters wide, with pointed tip, rounded or slightly heart-shaped base, nearly entire or faintly
undulately lobed margins. Flowers are solitary, axillary, about 8 millimeters long. Corolla is pale yellow, with 5
large, purple spots at the base inside. Fruit is round, fleshy and edible, about 1 centimeter in diameter. Calyx is
inflated, accrescent, and ovoid, about 3 centimeters long, 2 centimeters in diameter, green, with 5 prominent and
alternating slender and purplish ribs.

Found from the Babuyan Islands and northern Luzon to Mindanao and Palawan. Often common in open,
waste places at low altitudes, ascending up to 1,600 meters. Pantropic weed. Root extract used for fever.
Poultice of leaves, smeared with oiled and heated, applied to ulcers. Decoction of leaves with Plantago major
used for gonorrhea; also, diuretic. Fruit used as alterative, diuretic and aperient; used in dropsy, urinary diseases,
and gout.

Figure 11. Physalis minima L. Plant habit, leaf arrangement and leaf morphology
Physalis peruviana Linn.
Lobo-lobohan is more or less an erect herb, with a more vigorous growth than Physalis minima, more
upright with less deeply toothed leaves, and with larger flowers. Berries are oblong, about 2 centimeters long.
Seeds are numerous, very small, pale yellow and embedded in juicy pulp.
Thoroughly established in open, waste places in Lepanto and the Benguet subprovinces in Luzon.
Native of tropical America. Fruit is considered edible, raw or cooked. Excellent for making of jams and
preserves; for pies and cakes. Fruit is rich in A, C and B-complex vitamins

Figure 12. Physalis peruviana Plant habit, leaf arrangement and leaf morphology. Also included the floral

Inflorescence and fruits

Tribe Solaneae
Solanum nigrum Linn.
Lubi-lubi is an erect, branched, smooth or nearly smooth herb, up to 1 meter or less in height. Stems are
green and 3-angled. Leaves are ovate to oblong, 5 to 8 centimeters long, pointed at both ends, with subentire or
undulately toothed or lobed margins. The flowers are umbellately disposed, 5 - 8 on each peduncle. Calyx is
green with ovate-oblong lobes. Corolla is white, about 8 millimeters in diameter. Fruit is a berry, dark purple or
black, smooth, shining, rounded, about 5 millimeters in diameter. Seeds are yellow and minutely pitted.
Figure 13. Solanum nigrum plant habit, leaf and fruit arrangement and general morphology illustrated

Throughout the Philippines in open, waste places, recently disturbed soil; from sea level to a height of
2000 meters. Cosmopolitan. Fruit of some varieties is edible, excellent for use in pies and jams. Unripe fruit
reported to have toxicity. Boiled leaves eaten as vegetable.
Solanum verbascifolium Linn
Malatalong is a shrub, covered all over with dense, yellowish, grey, tomentum with scurfy, stellate hairs.
Leaves are ovate, oblong-ovate or elliptic-ovate, entire, and usually pointed at both ends, occasionally rounded at
the base, the lower surface pale and densely covered with stellate hairs. Flowers are white or pale blue, about
2ss, in compact, dichotomous corymbs. Calyx is grayish green, cup-shaped, about 5 millimeters long, very
wooly, with short and broadly triangular segments. Corolla is wooly without, with spreading, oblong-ovate lobes,
about. Fruit is fleshy, green or yellowish, rounded and about 1 centimeter in diameter, with minutely dotted
seeds.
Weed found throughout the Philippines in thickets and secondary forests at low and medium altitudes.
Pantropic. Leaves are heated and applied as emollient on the forehead for headaches. Decoction of roots taken
internally for diarrhea and dysentery.

Figure 14. Solanum verbascifolium L. plant habit, and floral inflorescence as illustrated
Solanum ferox Linn
Tarambulo is a small, suberect, prickly, hairy herb, 0.5 to 1.5 meters high. Leaves are broadly ovate, 15
to 20 centimeters long, 12 to 23 centimeters wide, lobed at the margins, and densely covered with stiff woolly
hairs above and woolly hairs and prickly spines on the nerves beneath; the lobes are triangular and 2.5 to 4
centimeters deep. Flowers are borne on lateral racemes. Calyx is shortly funnel-shaped, with ovate-triangular
lobes. Corolla is densely woolly outside, white, oblong-loved, 2 to 2.5 centimeters long. Fruit is a berry, yellow,
globose, 2.5 to 3.5 centimeters in diameter, densely covered with needle-like hairs, and many-seeded. Distributed
throughout the Philippines. In the Philippines, leaves used as poultices for swellings. Decoction of roots used for
body pains and discomfort after meals. Decoction used for syphilis. Roots used externally for baths for fevers
and as poultice for itches, cuts, wounds and bruises.

Figure 15. Solanum ferox plant habit, fruit appearance (in habit and cross sections)

Solanum lycopersicon
Kamatis is a hairy annual herb, typically growing 1 to 3 meters in height, with ascending or spreading
hairy and branched stems. Stem is weak, often sprawling over the ground or vines over other plants. Leaves are
pinnate and alternate, oblong-ovate, 10 to 40 centimeters long. Leaflets are irregular and toothed or lobed.
Inflorescence is racemose or cymose, 5 to 8 centimeters long, and few flowered. Flowers are yellow, 1 to 1.5
centimeters long. Fruit is variable in shape; in the wild and naturalized forms it is rounded or pear-shaped; 1 to
1.5 centimeters in diameter; in the commonly cultivated form, the fruit is rounded and compressed, lobed, 4 to 10
centimeters wide, red when ripe, smooth, fleshy, juicy, subacid, containing numerous seeds.
Found throughout the Philippines in its original form. Extensively cultivated; grown in gardens and
farms as vegetable. Cultivated worldwide. Its both fruit and vegetable, eaten raw or as ingredient in countless
dishes and sauces. Green, used in native pickles, achara. Good source of iron and phosphorus, vitamins A and B,
and excellent source of vitamin C, and considered deficient in calcium. Tomatoes are loaded for vitamin C, a
potent antioxidant that mops up free radicals.

Figure 16. Solanum lycopersicon plant habit, leaf arrangement, fruits and floral inflorescence
Solanum mammosum Linn.
Utong is a coarse and branched half-woody plant, prickly or unarmed, growing to a height of 0.4 to 1
meter. Stems are prickly and covered with soft short hairs. Leaves are ovate to oblong-ovate, broad as they are
long, 10 to 25 centimeters long, armed on both surfaces with long, stout spines, stellate-hairy beneath, and
irregularly and shallowly lobed at the margin. Inflorescences are umbelliform and lateral, with 1 to 6 flowers.
Flowers are axillary, about 2.5 centimeters long, purplish or bluish. Fruit is fleshy, smooth, purple when ripe, up
to 25 centimeters long, extremely variable in shape - rounded, oblong, or cylindric-oblong
In thickets and waste places along the roads at low altitudes in Leyte; Zamboanga, Mindanao, and Jolo.

Cultivated in some gardens in Manila and neighboring towns as a curiosity because of the shape of the
fruits Introduced from tropical America.

Propagated by seeds. - Fruit makes an excellent vegetable, the

elongated kind is most cultivated, eaten before it ripens, before the seed hardens. Good source of calcium,
phosphorus, iron, and vitamin B. The green leaves are a good source of vitamin C.

Figure 17. Solanum mammosum plant habit, leaf arrangement, fruits and floral inflorescence
Solanum melongena L
Talong is a coarse, usually branched, prickly or unarmed, erect, half-woody plant, growing to a height of
0.5 to 1 meter. Leaves are ovate to oblong-ovate, 10 to 25 centimeters long, stellate-hairy beneath, and
irregularly or shallowly lobed at the margins. Flowers are axillary, purplish, about 2.5 centimeters long. Fruit is
fleshy, smooth, purple, up to 25 centimeters long, extremely variable in shape, round, oblong, or cylindricoblong.
Cultivated throughout the Philippines for the edible fruit; the elongated variety, the most cultivated.
Nowhere spontaneous. Cultivated in all warm countries. - Fruit is an excellent vegetable and popular in the rural
day-to-day cuisine. It is eaten before it ripens, preferred before the seed hardens. Also used in native pickles and
curries in India. A good source of vitamins A, B, and C A good source of calcium, phosphorus, and iron;
carbohydrates and fiber.

Figure 17. Solanum melongena plant habit, leaf arrangement, fruits and floral inflorescence
Solanum pseudo-capsicum Linn
Jerusalem cherry is an erect, branched and non-spiny shrub growing to a height of one meter. Leaves are
alternate, oblong to lanceolate, up to 10 centimeters long, wavy, glossy green above. Flowers are nodal, white
and solitary. Fruit is globose, yellow or reddish, up to 1 centimeter in diameter. Ornamental cultivation in
Philippines. Common in commercial botanical garden in Baguio. No reported medicinal use in the Philippines
due to its toxicity.

Figure 18. Solanum pseudo-capsicum plant habit, fruit arrangement, leaf arrangement and cross section of fruit
Solanum torvum Sw.
Tandang-aso is coarse, erect, branched, half-woody herb, 1 to 3 meters high. Branches are covered with
short, scattered spines, and in most parts with stellate-shaped hairs. Leaves are alternate, ovate to oblong-ovate,
10 to 20 centimeters long, with sinuate-lobed margins, acuminate with inequality base. Inflorescences are lateral,
usually extra-axillary racemose, often dichotomous. Flowers are many, white, about 1 centimeter long. Corolla
tube is short, the limb 5-lobed. Stamens are 4, the filaments short, the anthers united into a cone. Ovary 2-celled.

Figure 19. Solanum torvum plant habit, leaf arrangement, fruits and floral inflorescence

Fruits are globose, smooth, yellow, glabrous, about 1 centimeter in diameter.Weed is found occurring in
open, waste places at low and medium altitudes in most islands and provinces. Flowering all year round. Now
pantropic. Malays use the fruit in curry preparations. fruit preferred unripe and provides a good flavoring
Solanum tuberosum L.
Patatas is a perennial herb with rough, pinnate leaves. Flowers are rather large, white or purple, starshaped, and borne on compound inflorescences, 3 to 4 centimeters in diameter. Roots grow round and edible
fleshy tubers. - Cultivated at higher altitudes, especially in the Mountain Province, Luzon, and in the Lanao
region in Mindanao Introduced from America. Very high starch content; valuable as an energy-giving food.v
Potatoes grown in Baguio are deficient in calcium, and only fair sources of iron. Good source of fiber, vitamins
B and C, and minerals. Peels are high in potassium.

Figure 19. Solanum lycopersicon plant habit, leaf arrangement, fruits and floral inflorescence
CONCLUSION
Based from the data that have been analyzed, the following conclusion was made: family
Convolvulaceae is monophyletic and sister to family Solanoceae because of (1) common phylogeny (2)
morphologic-anatomical similarities (3) similar phytogeographic distribution (4) similar secondary
metabolism (5) similar order of magnitude of species in the family [2500 species vs 1800 species] (6) one
genus dominating by far [Solanum -1400 species vs Ipomoea 650 species] (7) one economically very
important food plant containing starch in the tuber [Solanum tuberusom L. vs Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam]
and (8) a remarkable number of popular ornamentals- though not suitable as cut flowers, eg. from the
genera Brugsmansia, Brunfelsia, Petunia, Solandra, Solanum vs Argyreia, Convolvulus, Evolvulus,
Ipomoea Merremia

RECOMMENDATION
Upon conducting this study, the researchers recommend that not only the families under Eudicots
should be investigated and studied, but also families from Anagrade, Magnoliids and Monocots be given a
comprehensive descriptions and survey of their respective genera and species.

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