69. Solanaceae

This is a major family: tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers, nightshade, tobacco - need I say more? Who can imagine a world without tomatoes and potatoes? Although there are nearly a hundred genera in this family, one in particular - Solanum - towers above the others for economic importance, as it includes tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), and eggplants (Solanum melongena). 

Also important is the Capsicum genus, which encompasses the peppers - bell, chili, jalapeno and so forth - and the Physalis genus, which includes edible tomatillos (Physalis philadelphica) and ornamental Chinese lanterns (Physalis alkekengi). Another famous ornamental genus is Petunia.

Additionally this family, which is frequently called the nightshade family, is known for various toxic and mind altering plants, such as deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna), mandrake (Mandragora officinarum), and Jimson weed (Datura stramonium).

And speaking of toxic, one cannot overlook the impact the Nicotiana genus has had on the human race. Named after the French diplomat Jean Nicot, who introduced recreational tobacco from Portugal to the rest of Europe, Nicotiana tabacum is native to tropical America. Its area of cultivation is, of course, much greater, and its use rivals coffee and tea for global reach. As fascinating as all that is, I am happy to interject that tobacco products are pure evil and I wouldn't mind if they went away forever.

Paradoxically, the flowers are beautiful and are increasing planted in gardens for their ornamental value. Perhaps this is the true destiny of Nicotiana. A few years back I stumbled upon a fantastic display of ornamental tobacco at Old Westbury Gardens that showcased their many colors - seen here in the photos above.

A roadside weed called tree tobacco, Nicotiana Glauca, caught my eye while driving the rural back roads of California. I was intrigued to learn that this weed crept all the the way up from South America. Probably the first tobacco plant I got a close look at was Indian tobacco, Nicotiana quadrivalvis, a native of the American West. I was struck not only by its classic tobacco form but also the stickiness of its leaves.

My most recent and intriguing encounter with a Solanaceae plant was this Solandra maxima seen trellised on the side of California's First Theater in Monterey. Native to Mexico and Central America, these delightful flowers belong to a plant that - not surprisingly - goes by the common names Cup of Gold Vine and Golden Chalice Vine.

68. Simaroubaceae

Simaroubaceae is a small family, the best known member of which is the tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima. This native of China was brought to Europe and North America as an ornamental in the 18th century without awareness of how aggressively it would sucker and spread. Consequently it is possibly the most frequently encountered "weed tree" in New York and many other places. It is particularly associated with New York because of the 1943 novel "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith. In the book, the tenacious, indestructible nature of Ailanthus is used as a metaphor for human persistence in the face of adversity. Not surprisingly, the tree is so well established in the United States that it is unlikely to ever be eradicated.

Two more obscure genera are noted for their chemical constituents. Both are from tropical America. In the 18th century, French explorers discovered that Simarouba was helpful for treating dysentery. Similarly, Quassia was determined to be an effective natural insecticide, also helpful in treating intestinal parasites. Equally interesting is the botanist who discovered this: Graman Quassi, a freed black slave from the Dutch colony of Suriname. Evidently his talents as a healer won him his freedom, a ticket to Holland, and a place in botanical history.

67. Scrophulariaceae

With a name like Scrophulariaceae and a total of over 5000 species, one might imagine that one is in for a wild ride, botanically speaking. In fact it's a somewhat mild ride. At one time the family was much larger and encompassed such notable flowers as Antirrhinum (snapdragons), Digitalis (foxglove), Penstemon, Pawlonia, Veronica, and Hebe -- to name a few. The vast majority of these got sent to the Plantaginaceae family due to the phylogenetic studies of the APG.

Among what remains is Verbascum (mullein), Buddleja (butterfly bush), and Myoporum. I mention these in part because I am familiar with them. Mulleins are very distinctive with large velvety leaves and stalks bolting high out of the ground. I remember my mother bringing them to my attention on Shelter Island, where they flourished as weeds around the marina. Like many weeds, Verbascum is reputed to have medicinal value.

The other two were brought to my attention while working in California. Buddleja (above) is commonly known as butterfly bush, due to its relationship with various pollinators. This photo was actually taken in Louisiana, where it also flourishes. Buddleja grows throughout the world, with many species native to the Americas. In contrast, Myoporum is more a creature of the south Pacific. Despite that fact, the shrubs are widely used in California for landscaping. Below, an example of the beautiful flowers I used to ponder till I finally learned what they were.

66. Sapotaceae

Most mornings, after showering, I slap shea butter on my face. It seems to agree with me. Shea butter comes from the nuts of the shea or shi tree, Vitellaria paradoxa, which is native to a huge cross section of Africa -- roughly from Senegal to Ethiopia, and south into Congo. In addition to benefiting the skin, shea is a food staple in much of Africa.

This pan-tropical family of some 800 species includes other edible fruits, many of which are better known in Latin America. The names sapote, zapote, sapota and sapodilla are all interrelated, and if that isn't confusing enough, the tree known as "white sapote" (Casimiroa edulis) -- the only one I have first-hand experience of -- belongs to the Rutaceae or citrus family. As far as the Sapotaceae family is concerned, the commercially import genii are Manilkara, Pouteria, Chrysophyllum and Vitellaria. Some species are good sources of latex, rubber and chicle (a basic ingredient of chewing gum).

65. Sapindaceae

Sapindaceae is an interesting family that encompasses the familiar and the exotic, the temperate and the tropical. What could be more familiar than a maple tree? And what could be more exotic than a rambutan? One frequent characteristic is the presence of sticky sap, earning it the common name "soapberry family".

My childhood was filled with Norway maples (Acer platanoides) and Japanese maples (Acer palmatum). The native sugar maple (Acer saccharum) -- source of maple syrup -- was everywhere as well. Horse-chestnuts or buckeyes (Aesculus) were also around but didn't make an impression on me until I moved to California, where the California buckeye (Aesculus californica) puts on quite a display.

In California the Sapindaceae family presented me with other oddities, trees that were interesting to behold but served no other purpose beyond landscaping. These would include the carrotwood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides) from Australia and the goldenrain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) from China.

At the exotic end of the spectrum this family is known for such strange fruits as the lychee (Litchi chinensis), longan (Dimocarpus longan), ackee (Blighia sapida), and rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum).

With this kind of diversity, encompassing nearly 2000 species, there should be a Sapindaceae plant for everyone.

64. Salicaceae

The Salicaceae family has brought us cottonwoods, aspens, poplars, willows and aspirin -- among other things. 

Seen above is the Fremont cottonwood, Populus fremontii,  standing in front of Zion Lodge at Zion National Park in Utah. These trees are found in riparian areas all over the west. The name comes from the abundant airborne "cotton" released by the tree as seed.

Above, from the same road trip, an aspen forest (Populus tremuloides or quaking aspen). Unfortunately due to the altitude and time of year, the famously trembing leaves were gone, but the silvery trunks were still nice to see.

Now that I think about it, all the trees in the Populus genus that I have encountered are beautiful. Lombardy poplars (Populus nigra) from the Mediterranean are often planted in rows as windbreaks. They have a stately presence that brings to mind Italian countryside -- along with leaves that shimmer like aspens. These trees are found throughout California.

On the east coast my first Salicaceae encounter was probably a weeping willow (Salix babylonica). Actually these trees originate from China, but they have been cultivated in Europe and America for centuries. One of the largest and most impressive trees on my Dad's property growing up was a weeping willow.

The Salix genus is famous for having provided the human race with aspirin. Contained within the bark is a substance called salicin, which our bodies convert to salicylic acid, a pain reliever. Chemists have long since been able to produce a synthetic version of this pain reliever, commonly known as aspirin. I for one like to focus on the willow tree connection, the very thought of which helps me soothe aches and pains.

63. Rutaceae

  

The Rutaceae family has 160 genera, more than I can wrap my little head around. The most economically significant of these by far is Citrus. Due to a long history of propagation and cross-breeding, the number of Citrus species is not cut and dry. Above, the famous Meyer lemon, Citrus x meyeri, named after Frank Nicholas Meyer -- an agricultural explorer for the USDA who brought the plant from China in 1908.

What can you say about citrus? There's no argument against it. It prevents scurvy and cures colds.

That being said, there is a remarkable variety of citrus plants, and keeping track of all the distinctions can be difficult.

One of the few non-Citrus members of the family I have encountered is Casimiroa edulis, or white sapote. The tree seen below grows on a street in the Salinas Valley, where evidently it is warm enough to support this native of Mexico and Central America. Not too surprisingly, the tree also goes by the name "Mexican apple".