The potato, the tomato and the aubergine (eggplant) are all genus Solanum. They are close relatives. The genus is related to the European nightshade family, co

The potato, the tomato and the aubergine (eggplant) are all genus Solanum. They are close relatives. The genus is related to the European nightshade family, colloquially known as "deadly nightshade" with good reason. When tomatos were first brought to Europe from the Americas, they were used purely decoratively as everyone believe they would be toxic as they were clearly similar to the highly poisonous nightshades. One of the only uses of nightshade was for an extract to paralyse the muscles of the iris, leading to very dilated pupils and big dark eyes, considered a sign of beauty in women. Thus the Latin name: "belladonna" -- literally, "bella" (beautiful) "donna" (lady).