A morphological and anatomical study of 50 samples of seeds representing nine native and naturalized species of Solanum
was carried out. Thirteen seed characters were defined on the basis of LM & SEM examination. The seeds showed
considerable variations in shape, seed coat ornamentation, wax status and anatomical structure (presence of middle layer
and shape and elongation of epidermal cells). Three groups (patterns) of seeds are distinguished: Group I include: Solanum sinaicum, S. virginianum, S. villosum, S. schimperianum and S. nigrum. Group II includes, Solanum eleagnifolium, S. coagulans and S. incanum while group III include S. forskalei. Seed surface features provide a useful basis for
distinguishing the studied species, which in some cases coincide with gross morphological characters of the species and in
other cases they are not coinciding. Phylogenetic relationships can be based upon the number of layers of the seed coat and
its sculpture.