Angiosperm Families: Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Poaceae, Properties

What is Angiosperm?

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Angiosperms are also called flowering plant. Angiosperm is the largest and most distinct group in Plantae. In angiosperms, the ovule gets fertilized and it develops as a seed within the hollow ovary. The ovary in the angiosperms is generally enclosed in a flower. This contains the male or female reproductive organs or both of them. 

Angiosperms are the most important source of food in both direct and indirect ways. They are the major source of textile fibres, consumer goods, medicines, spices, herbs etc. Angiosperms grow in all terrestrial and aquatic habitats. They dominate all the main terrestrial areas of vegetation. 

Also Read: Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants 

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Asteraceae

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The asteraceae family is one of the largest angiosperm families which consists of around 32,000 species of flowering plants. This family is also called Compositae or daisy. Plants like sunflowers, daisy, lettuce etc. are the plants belonging to the asteraceae family.

 Structure of Asteraceae

Features of Asteraceae

The features of Asteraceae family are as follows:

• Asteraceae are mostly xerophytes, semi-aquatic and hydrophytes.
• Asteraceae contains herbs, trees and shrubs.
• The taproots in this family get modified into tubers.
• The stem usually contains latex. It can be erect, hairy, prostrate or woody.
• The leaves in this type can be petiolate, radical and exstipulate.
• Flowers are bisexual or unisexual, ligulate or tubular. Filament in the flower is free with the anthers united.
• In Asteraceae, androecium is absent.
• Gynoecium is either present or absent in the flower.
• The seed in the asteraceae is endospermic in nature.
• The produced fruit is cypsela.

Importance of Asteraceae in industry

The Asteraceae in the industry can be used in various ways. It has an economical importance. The ways in which it can be used are as follows:

1. The Asteraceae family is a major source of food. The leaves and roots of a few plants are edible, for example lettuce.
2. The asteraceae like sunflower, their seeds can be used in the production of oil. 
3. Asteraceae have many medicinal uses. Few plants of the asteraceae family are used to cure bowel disorders and have a cooling effect. The juices and roots of asteraceae plants are very beneficial in many diseases.
4. Taraxacum and Solidago leavenworthii are used to produce rubber.
5. Chrysanthemum roseum’s capitulos is dried and then its power is used as an insecticide in the industry. 

Also Read: Importance, Components and Habits of food

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Brassiacaeae

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Brassicaceae are also known as Cruiciferae. They are medium-sized and a very important family of flowering plants economically. They are also called as mustards or the cabbage family. Red and green cabbage, broccoli, and collards are a few examples of Brassicaceae.

Vegetable seed production in Brassicaceae

Features of Brassicaceae

The features of Brassicaceae family are as follows:

• In Brassicaceae, the taproots are swollen because of the food storage.
• Brassicaceae generally includes herbs, shrubs, annuals and biennials.
• The stem in this family is herbaceous, erect and rarely woody.
• Leaves in brassicaceae are opposite, alternate, exstipulate and simple. 

Importance of Brassicaceae in industry

The Brassicaceae has various uses in the industry. They are as follows:

1. The seeds of plants in the Brassicaceae family are used to produce oil. For example, mustard oil. Mustard oil is widely used in cooking in mostly Indian households.
2. The Brassicaceae family’s plants are also used as medicines. The shoots and roots of plants are used to cure cough, asthma and piles. The seeds are used in the treatment of bronchitis and fever and the flowers are helpful to treat impotence and paralysis. 
3. Alyssum, Hesperis, Iberis amara plants like these bear really beautiful flowers and are used to make flower jewellery.

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Poaceae

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Poaceae family is also known as Gramineae. It is an extensive and ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants called grasses. The Poaceae family includes bamboo, barley, cane, lawn grass etc.

Poaceae – Grass family

Features of Poaceae

The features of Poaceae family are as follows:

• Poaceae are generally shrubs, herbs, annuals or perennials. They are sometimes tree-like.
• The roots of this family are mostly fibrous, adventitious, branched or stilt.
• Sometimes the stem is underground as in rhizomes, woody or herbaceous.
• The leaves of Poaceae are simple, alternate, distichous and exstipulate.
• The nature of the seeds is endospermic and monocotyledonous.
• Fruits of Poaceae family generally include nuts, berries or caryopsis. 

Importance of Poaceae in industry

The plants of Poaceae family are used in various ways in the industry. The uses are as follows:

1. Sugar, Jaggery are also made by using the Saccharum officinarum.
2. Bambusa are used as a building material. 
3. Many aromatic plants belonging to Poaceae family are used to make scented oil using their roots.
4. Phragmites karka, Cymbopogon schoenanthus plants like these have many medicinal values and ability to cure various diseases. 

Also Read: Regions of Roots- Functions and Anatomy

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Things to Remember 

• Angiosperm is the largest and most varied group in Plantae. They are also called as flowering plants.
• The term angiosperm has come from the Greek words angeion which means container and sperma which means seed. The angiosperms produce the seeds inside the fruit. 
• Angiosperm family consists of three different families within itself. They are-Asteraceae, Brassicaceae and Poaceae.
• All these families are various uses in the food industry as well as the medicinal uses. They are highly beneficial in the economic terms. 

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Sample Questions 

Ques. What do you mean by the term Angiosperm? (2 marks)

Ques. What are the various ways in which Brassicaceae are used in the industry? (2 marks)

Ques. What is called as Brassicaceae? Give examples for the same. (2 marks)

Ques. Explain the main three families that come under angiosperm. Explain them with the examples. (3 marks) 

Ques. What are the medicinal uses of Asteraceae? (2 marks)

Ques. Which plants from the Brassicaceae family are used to make ornaments? (2 marks)

Ques. List down the characteristics of Poaceae family. (5 marks)

Ques. Write the importance of Asteraceae, Brassicaceae and Poaceae families in the oil industry. (3 marks)

Ques. What are the examples for Poaceae? (2 marks)

Ques. What are the examples for Poaceae? (2 marks)

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