Solanaceae, Fabaceae, Liliaceae: Introduction and Characteristics (For CBSE, ICSE, IAS, NET, NRA 2022)

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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

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.

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.

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) .