Is Solanum the largest genus in the whole plant kingdom? According to Plants of the World Online, there are “1237 Accepted Species”. Why did taxonomist lump everything from Potatoes, Tomatoes, Eggplants, Pepino Melons, Bittersweet Nightshades, Lulo, Black Nightshades, Tomarillo all into 1 genus whe…

16th. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_largest_genera_of_flowering_plants#Largest_genera

Thank you! That answers the first part, now On to the 2nd. Why they taxonomist make it so big?

It looks like this list follow POWO and is missing the infamous Hieracium (4607 species in POWO), Taraxacum (2494), and Rubus (1556). I see there’s already a note on the talk page about them haha.

Wait until you hear about Euphorbia. Somehow woody shrubs, ordinary looking herbaceous weeds, poinsettias, cactus-like succulents, and the bizarre “baseball plant” are all in the same genus

Astragalus, then Carex, then Euphorbia, then I don’t know past there. At least this holds for US and Canada. I know worldwide Astragalus is 1.

Is Solanum the largest plant Genus?

Nature Talk

cthawley August 1, 2025, 5:41pm 4

https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/why-do-some-genera-have-so-many-species/18452/

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Is Solanum the largest plant Genus?

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