petunia, any plant of the genus Petunia, South American herbs of
the family Solanaceae (nightshade family). The common garden
petunias, planted also in window boxes, are all considered
hybrids of white-flowered and violet-flowered species from
Argentina. The plants are of a straggling habit and produce an
abundance of large, funnel-shaped, fragrant blossoms. Petunias
are classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class
Magnoliopsida, order Polemoniales, family Solanaceae. The
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