Metternichia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Solanaceae.

[2] The genus name of Metternichia is in honour of Klemens von Metternich (1773–1859), prince of Ochsenhausen, diplomat and Austrian painter and illustrator.

[4] The Latin specific epithet of principis is derived from princeps meaning foremost, but in this case refers to belonging to the prince.

[5] Both the genus and species were first described and published by Johann Christian Mikan in Del.

The second species occurs in drier habitat and was described by Carvalho in Solanaceae: Biol.