Solanaceae, Fabaceae, Liliaceae: Introduction and Characteristics

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Solanaceae

• The Solanaceae, or nightshades, are a family of flowering plants.

• The name Solanaceae derives from the genus Solanum, “the nightshade plant.”

• It ranges from annual and perennial herbs to vines, lianas, epiphytes, shrubs, and trees.

• It includes a few agricultural crops, medicinal plants, spices, weeds, and ornamentals.

• This family is also known as the potato family.

• As many as 2000 species of dicotyledonous plants belong to this family.

• Fruits related to the Solanaceae:

  • Tomatoes

  • Tomatillos

  • Eggplant Bell peppers

  • Chili peppers

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Characteristics of Solanaceae Family

• Solanaceae includes herbs, shrubs, small trees, and climbers.

• It has Taproot system.

• The leaves are simple or pinnately compound (rarely).

Importance of Solanaceae Family

• They are used as ornamental plants for e.g. petunia.

• They are an important source of spices for e.g. chilly.

• They are also an important source of food for e.g. brinjal and potato, etc.

• They can also be used as medicinal plants for e.g. belladonna and ashwagandha.

Fabaceae Family

• It is a large and economically important family of flowering plants.

• Fabaceae is commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family.

• It includes trees, shrubs, and perennial or annual herbaceous plants.

• This family is widely distributed and is the third-largest land plant family in number of species.

• This family is also known as Leguminosae or Papilionaceae.

• 2000 species of dicotyledonous Fabaceae plants are widely distributed all over the world.

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Characteristics of Fabaceae Family

• The leaves consist of Petiolate, pinnately compound, or simple.

• Root consists of Dicotyledons, taproot with root nodules.

• Stem consists of Erect or climber; Fabaceae includes shrubs, herbs, trees, etc.

Importance of Fabaceae Family

• Plants belonging to this family are unique with root nodules containing nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria.

• The main source of food is pulses like gram, moong, soya bean.

• Some plants for e.g. Mulethi is known for its medicinal value.

• Soyabean and groundnuts are used extracting oil for cooking purpose.

Liliaceae Family

• It is also known as the ‘lily family.’

• It is the family of around 2500 species of perennial, herbaceous monocots.

• The leaves are linear in shape, with their veins usually arranged parallel to the edges.

• A few Liliaceae genera are popular cultivated plants in private and public spaces.

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Importance of Liliaceae Family

• Aloe Vera, Smilax, etc. are the source of medicine.

• Lilium, tulips, etc. are the ornamental plants.

• The roots of various species of Smilax are used as flavoring agents.

Floral Characters of Solanaceae, Fabaceae, Liliaceae

FAQs

Q 1. Which vegetables are included under the Solanaceae family?

Answer: Potatoes, eggplant, tomato, capsicum and chilly are the vegetables included under the Solanaceae family.

Q 2. What fruit is included in the Fabaceae family?

Answer: Legume is included in the Fabaceae family along with leguminous plants.

Q 3. What are the characteristics of Fabaceae Family?

Answer:

Some of the important characteristics of Fabaceae Family are:

i) The leaves consist of Petiolate, pinnately compound, or simple.

ii) Root consists of Dicotyledons, taproot with root nodules.

iii) Stem consists of Erect or climber; Fabaceae includes shrubs, herbs, trees, etc.

Q 4. What are the characteristics of Solanaceae Family?

Answer:

Some of the important characteristics of Solanaceae Family are:

i) Solanaceae includes herbs, shrubs, small trees, and climbers.

ii) It has Taproot system.

iii) The leaves are simple or pinnately compound (rarely).