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Fabaceae, Solanaceae, and Liliaceae are three major families of flowering plants.
- Fabaceae is the third-largest family in the Plant Kingdom.
- It is one of the most economically important families and is also known as the legume family.
- Solanaceae is the most utilized family by humans.
- It is also known as the nightshade or potato family and includes food like potato, tomato, bell peppers, gooseberry, etc.
- Liliaceae family is known for its beautiful and decorative flowers like lilies and tulips. It is also known as the lily family.
According to plant taxonomists, it is estimated that there are a total of 2 to 3 million plant species on our planet. Among them, about two lakh species are angiosperms (flowering plants). These plants are grouped into different families depending on their characteristics.
Read More: NCERT Solutions For Class 11 Biology Morphology of Flowering Plants
Key Terms: Fabaceae, Solanaceae, Liliaceae, Flowering Plants, Roots, Legumes, Inflorescence, Nightshade Family, Angiosperms
Family Solanaceae
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Solanaceae is a family of flower-bearing plants that can be perennials, biennials, or annuals. The name "Solanaceae" is derived from the genus Solanum.
- Solanaceae are also called nightshades.
- They include all different types of plants, such as vines, epiphytes, vines, shrubs, trees, etc.
- They are widely used as crops and medicinal herbs.
- Some of them are also used as spices and condiments and some have ornamental values.
- Plants of this family are found all over the world except Antarctica.
- They show maximum diversity in South and Central America.
- Many species belonging to this family produce alkaloids as secondary metabolites.
Family Solanaceae
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Vegetative Characteristics
- The leaves are usually alternate or alternate towards the base of the plant and opposite in the inflorescence region.
- The leaf lamina is either simple or compound.
- The leaves may be herbaceous or leathery or may be modified into spines.
- Leaves have reticulate venation and no basal meristem.
- The flowers are generally hermaphrodite, but some may be monoecious, andromonoecious, or dioecious.
- In most species, the flowers are complete with a proper calyx and corolla.
- They also have an androecium (consisting of five stamens) and a gynoecium (with two carpels).
- A well-developed, branched root system is present.
- The stem has proper nodes and internodes and can be erect or creeping. Some plants also have woody stems.
Read More: Vegetative Characters of Solanaceae
Floral Characteristics
- Inflorescence: Racemose- terminal or axillary raceme; Cymose- solitary in Solanum.
- Flower: Complete, bisexual, actinomorphic, hypogynous.
- Calyx: Five sepals, gamosepalous; ventilation aestivation.
- Corolla: Five petals, gamopetalous, valvate aestivation.
- Androecium: Five stamens, epipetalous; anthers basifixed.
- Gynoecium: Syncarpous, bicarpellary, bilocular, superior ovary, axillary placenta.
- Fruit: Berry/capsule.
- Seed: Numerous, endospermic.
Solanaceae Flower
Read More: Floral Formula of Family Solanaceae
Economic Importance
- They are an important source of foods such as Tomato, brinjal, and potato.
- These are important sources of spices.
- Nicotiana tabacum leaves are the main source of tobacco.
- They are also used as ornamental plants. For example- petunias.
- Plants such as belladonna and ashwagandha are also used as medicinal plants.
Read More: Economic Importance of Solanaceae
Fabaceae, Solanaceae, and Liliaceae
Family Fabaceae
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Family Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly called legumes or beans, contains a large collection of flowering plants.
- These plants can be either perennial or annual and can take the form of trees or shrubs.
- Most of these plants are of agricultural importance and some are also used for ornamental purposes.
- These plants are found worldwide except in Antarctica and the high arctic regions.
- They show maximum diversity in tropical regions.
- Another notable feature of legumes is that they are known to increase the fertility of the soil in which they are grown.
- They can fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil using leghemoglobin, which is present in their root nodules.
Family Fabaceae
Read More: Morphology of Flowering Plants Important Questions
Vegetative Characteristics
- Plants of the Fabaceae family can be erect, vines or epiphytes.
- The leaves are generally compound and are arranged alternately.
- They always have stipules which can be a thorn (e.g. Robinia) or a leaf (e.g. Pisum).
- Some species have leaflets that are modified into tendrils (e.g. Vicia).
- In many Fabaceae plants, the roots have specialized structures called root nodules, inside which bacteria reside.
- These bacteria, known as rhizobia, form a symbiotic relationship with plants and help fix nitrogen.
- They take nitrogen gas from the atmosphere and convert it into a form that can be used by the host plant in the form of ammonia or nitrate.
- They usually have five fused sepals and five free petals, with ten stamens and one elongated superior ovary.
Floral Characteristics
- Inflorescence: Racemose.
- Flower: Complete, bisexual, zygomorphic, hypogynous, bracteate / ebracteate.
- Calyx: Five sepals, gamosepalous; ventilation or imbricate aestivation.
- Corolla: Five petals, polypetalous, papilionose, vexillary aestivation.
- Androecium: Ten stamens (9+1), diadelphous, anther dithecous.
- Gynoecium: Ovary superior, monocarpellary, unilocular, simple, short-type, and flat, hairy stigma.
- Fruits: Legumes.
- Seed: One or more, non-endospermic.
Fabaceae Flower
Read More: Floral Formulae of Fabaceae
Economic Importance
- Pulses like gram, moong, and soybean are the main source of food.
- The Mulethi plant is known for its medicinal value.
- Soybeans and groundnuts are used to extract oil, which is used in cooking.
- Sunny hemp is a source of wood and fiber.
- Indigofera is used to make a dye.
- Sesbania and Trifolium are sources of fodder or fodder for livestock.
- Lupine and pea are known as ornamental plants.
Read More: Economic Importance of Fabaceae
Family Liliaceae
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Family Liliaceae belongs to the order Liliales and includes more than 250 different genera and 4075 species of flowering plants. Despite their genetic similarity, members of this family differ greatly in their morphological characteristics. They are abundant in all parts of the world, especially in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. They are mostly popular for their ornamental value, but recent research has also revealed their importance as medicinal plants.
Family Liliaceae
Read More: MCQs on Morphology Of Flowering Plants
Vegetative Characteristics
- Plants belonging to the family are herbaceous, perennial, and monocotyledonous.
- Their flowers are hermaphroditic (both sexes are present in the same flower) and are either radially or bilaterally symmetrical.
- The perianth is usually undifferentiated and consists of six petals arranged in two separate whorls of three parts each, with a superior ovary and six stamens.
- Flowers are pollinated by insects. The aerial stem is not branched.
- The leaves are simple, parallel-veined, and alternately arranged.
- Most species grow from bulbs, but some also have rhizomes.
- Some species are known to have poisonous effects when consumed by humans or animals.
Read More: Vegetative Characters Of the Liliaceae Family
Floral Characteristics
- Inflorescence: Cymose- solitary; surrounding clusters.
- Flower: Complete, bisexual, actinomorphic; hypogynous, perianth present.
- Perianth: Sepal and petal inconspicuous; six petals (3+3), often joined petals; ventilation aestivation.
- Androecium: Six stamens in two whorls (3+3).
- Gynoecium: Syncarpous, tricarpellary, trilocular, superior ovary with axial placentation.
- Fruit: Mostly capsules and sometimes berries.
- Seeds: Endospermic seeds.
Read More: Floral Formula of Liliaceae
Economic Importance
- They are sources of medicine such as Aloe vera, Smilax, and Colchicine.
- They are used as ornamental plants such as Lilium, tulips, Gloriosa, and Ruscus.
- Some of them are used as food sources or vegetables like Asparagus.
- Allium cepa bulbs and the roots of various Smilax species are used as flavorings.
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Things to Remember
- Fabaceae, Solanaceae, and Liliaceae are three major families of flowering plants.
- Solanaceae is a family of flowering plants that bear five segmented flowers and produce toxic alkaloids.
- Liliaceae is a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants that belong to the order Liliales and bear six segmented flowers.
- Fabaceae is a family of flowering plants that produce typical fruits called legumes.
- Fabaceae and Solanaceae include dicotyledonous plants with tap root systems.
- Liliaceae include monocotyledonous plants with a fibrous root system.
- These three plant families are economically important species.
Previous Years’ Questions
- The floral formula of family-Fabaceae is… (AMUEEE 2015)
- The distinct features of Fabaceae are… (KEAM)
- Pulses belong to the family…
- Epipetalous and syngenesious stamens occur in… (NEET 1991)
- The correct floral formula of soybean is… (NEET 2010)
- Potato is included in solanaceae family because… (AIIMS 1997)
- Which pair of plants placed in the family- Solanaceae… (AMUEEE 2014)
- Which of the followings are the characteristic features of Solanaceae… (KEAM)
- Tetradynamous conditions occur in… (NEET 2001)
- Bicarpellary gynoecium and oblique ovary occurs in… (NEET 2001)
- Inflorescence of Liliaceae is… (AIIMS 2011)
- The condition in which anthers of all the stamens of a…
- The roots that originate from the base of the stem are… (NEET 2020)
Sample Questions
Ques. Define the characteristics of the Solanaceae family. (3 Marks)
Ans. Solanaceae, also known as the nightshade family, is a family of flowering plants. This family has a variety of plants ranging from annual and perennial herbs to vines, lianas, epiphytes, shrubs, and trees.
- Solanaceae include economically important plants such as crops, spices, medicinal plants, ornamental plants, and weeds.
- It includes food sources such as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, bell and chili peppers, etc.
- The fruits can be edible or poisonous.
- The leaves are mostly simple and alternately arranged.
- The flowers are mostly bisexual and have 5 petals.
- The fruit is a berry or capsule.
Ques. What is Fabaceae? (3 Marks)
Ans. Fabaceae, also known as Leguminosae, is a family of flowering plants.
- It is the third-largest family of flowering plants.
- The Fabaceae family is also known as the pea family or the legume family.
- There are around 18,000 species in this family.
- This plant family is characterized by its compound leaves, which are pinnately folded, and a typical fruit called a pod or pod.
- Most of the legumes are dehiscent fruits.
- These dry fruits split open along two seams in order to release seeds into the environment.
Ques. What is Liliaceae? (4 Marks)
Ans. Liliaceae, also known as the lily family, is another family of flowering plants.
- They are monocots, thus, they have a fibrous root system.
- Their flowers are complete and six-parted.
- The flowers have six petals, six sepals, and six stamens.
- The fruits are three-chambered capsules.
- Some species of Liliaceae, such as asparagus, are a food source.
- Moreover, some species like Aloe vera, Smilax Colchicine, etc. are medically important.
- There are also ornamental plants in this family. Not only that, some parts of certain plants are used as flavorings.
Ques. What are the Similarities Between Fabaceae Solanaceae and Liliaceae? (3 Marks)
Ans. Fabaceae, Solanaceae, and Liliaceae are three families of flowering plants. The similarities between all the families are as follows:
- They bear full flowers.
- They produce fruits and seeds.
- All three families consist of plants that are a source of food.
Ques. What is the difference between Fabaceae Solanaceae and Liliaceae? (3 Marks)
Ans. The difference between Fabaceae Solanaceae and Liliaceae is that:
- Fabaceae is a family of flowering plants that produce fruits called legumes.
- Solanaceae is a family of flowering plants in which many species contain strong alkaloids that are toxic.
- Liliaceae is a family of flowering plants that bear six-segmented flowers and three-chambered capsules.
- Additionally, both Fabaceae and Solanaceae are dicotyledons, while Liliaceae plants are monocotyledons.
Ques. How to recognize the Solanaceae family? (1 Mark)
Ans. The main identifying characteristics of the Solanaceae family are taproots, alternate leaves, a complete flower with 5 petals and sepals each in a flower, and the fruit is a capsule or berry.
Ques. What are the floral characteristics of Liliaceae? (1 Mark)
Ans. The floral characteristics of Liliaceae include alternate leaves, actinomorphic flowers, perianth with 3 petals and 3 sepals, superior ovary, and axial placentation.
Ques. Solanaceae is part of which order? (2 Marks)
Ans. Solanaceae, a family of flowering plants, are included in the order Solanales. The family includes nearly 98 genera and approximately 2,700 identified species showing immense diversity in morphology, habitats, and ecology.
Ques. What are the vegetative characteristics of Solanaceae? (3 Marks)
Ans. The vegetative characteristics of Solanaceae are as follows:
- They have a Taproot system of roots.
- The stems are erect or climber.
- This family includes shrubs, climbers, small trees, and herbs.
- The leaves are alternate, pinnately compound or simple, reticulate venation, exstipulate.
Ques. List the vegetative characteristics of the Liliaceae family. (3 Marks)
Ans. Liliaceae family has the following vegetative characteristics:
- This family has a fibrous root system.
- The stem is erected as the perennial herbs propagate through the bulbs or the rhizomes.
- The leaves are simple, alternate, have parallel venation, and are exstipulate.
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