Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi There - Please could some of you brainy bods help me out ....?

I'm trying to identify all the species from the nightshade family, please could you help me complete the list - so far I have:
Potatoe
Aubergine
Peppers & chilli
Tomatoe

Recently though I've read in a couple of places that zuccini (spelling?) / courgette is also part of this family which has stumped me - cause surely if it is, then there are squashes / pumpkin etc that are too??
Is this correct?

Also if you know - please could you tell me which spices apart from chilli, paprika & cayenne are part of that family.

If anyone know where I can get simple but factualinfo on this it would be great.
Many thanks for your help, & thanks for taking the time to read this
Skip

Hi Skip

I presume you are trying to find the members of the family which are edible
If so your list is about right, unless you want to add a few "exotics" such as Cape Gooseberry and Tomatillo (Physalis species).
As you know, there are plenty of "non-edibles" in the family.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanaceae

As for courgettes/zucchini* - if you read somewhere that they are anything to do with Solanaceae - don't read that source again!
Together with pumpkins/squashes, melons, cucumbers etc. they are Cucurbitaceae

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucurbitaceae

*Incidentally, why do we have a French and an Italian name for them, but no English one? Both names mean little squash/marrow. Perhaps we should call them "Squashkins" or "Marrowlets". Any other suggestions?

Alan

Many thanks for your info on this - reasuring about the marrow / squash family too, I was pretty convinced they couldn't be related ... shows you shouldn't believe all you find on random web searches!

I have to say, I do like 'marrowlets'! - very funny

Thanks again for your help
Skip