Some Important Families

The most diverse group of plants on Earth are angiosperms or flowering plants known as Magnoliophyta, with 64 orders, 416 families, about 13,000 known genera, and 300,000 known species. Furthermore, these flowering plants are divided into two classes: dicotyledonous plants (seed with two cotyledons) and monocotyledonous plants (seed with one cotyledon). 

The various characteristics of the family are the diagnostic characteristics that allow us to distinguish them. These diagnostic functions are primarily based on flower characteristics such as flower sexuality, flower symmetry, flower swirl, ovarian position concerning bracts,  calyx, corolla,  and stamen condition. Pistil. These signs are symbolized and arranged in the form of a flower for systematic study and a quick grasp of all diagnostic functions of the family. The flower diagram is a schematic of the cross-section and flower buds, providing additional information such as placenta, parent axis location, and beautification. 

Some Important families 

1. Fabaceae

It is distributed worldwide in about 400 genera and 12000 species. This family was formerly known as the subfamily Papilionoideae, a subfamily of the legume family.

Systematic Position

Class- Dicotyledonae
Subclass- Polypetalae
Series- Calyciflorae
Order- Rosales
Family- Fabaceae

Vegetative Characters

• Habit – Plants are mainly herbs, but shrubs, trees, and vines are also widespread.

• Root – Taproot with mostly nodular side branches (nodules contain the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Rhizobium).

• Stem – Climb a herb or wood, upright or tendril. Leaves: Alternating, rarely simple, generally complex pinnate, stationary, leaf-based pinnate, reticulated veins, leaves, or leaflets are converted to tendrils.

Floral Characters 

• Inflorescence – solitary or Racemose

• Flower – Stalker, bract, bisexual, junctional morphology, perigin, sometimes pituitary, 5x.

• Calyx – Sepals five, gamosepalous, valvate/imbricate aestivation.

• Corolla – It consists of five petals, multi-petals, papillionate, posterior wing, two lateral wings, two anterior wings forming a keel (surrounding the stamen and pistil), and beautification of the pistil.

• Androecium – 10 Diadelphos (9 congenital and 1 free), anther dithek.

• Gynoecium – Excellent single ovules of the ovary, one chamber with many ovules, isolated style, many ovules in two alternating rows.

• Fruit – Legumes or pods. Seeds: One-to-many, no endosperm.

Economic Importance 

• Pulses: This family is the source of some pulse crops such as Gram(chana), arhar (Pigeon pea), moong (Green gram), soybean, etc.

• Fodder: Trifolium, Sesbania, etc.

• Edible oil: Groundnut and soybean are used as cooking oil, preparation of soaps, cosmetics, etc.

• Dyes: Indigo dye obtained from Indigofera.

• Fibres: Plants belonging to this family are also used as fodder, e.g., Sunhemp

• Ornamental: Common ornamentals are lupin (Lupinus), sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus)

• Medicines: The roots of Multipath (Glycyrrhiza glabra) are used in relieving inflammation and treating gastric ulcers; seeds of Butea monosperma have antifungal and anthelmintic properties.

2. Solanaceae

It is a large family, represented by about 90 genera and 2,800 species commonly known as the potato family. It is generally distributed in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. 

Systematic Position

Class- Dicotyledonae

Subclass- Gamopetalae

Series- Bicarpellatae

Order- Polyminales

Family- Solanaceae

Vegetative Characters

• Habit: Mainly herbs, sometimes shrubs and trees. Rarely vines. 

• Route: Naone. 

• Stems: Herbaceous, rarely woody, airy, upright, cylindrical, stiff, branched or hollow, hairy or hairless (smooth), potato (Solanumtuberosum) rhizomes. 

• Leaves: Alternating, simple, rarely pinnate, molting, hairy, net-like stripes.

Floral Characters

• Inflorescence: Solitary, in leaf axils or cymbal as in Solanum. 

• Flowers: Bracts or bracts, pedunculate, hermaphroditic, active, pentagonal, borne. 

• Calyx: Calyx five, fused, persistent, valuable, gamosepalous. 

• Corolla: Five Petals, Gamopetales, Valuation. 

• Androcea: five stamens. Anther, anther bitheca. 

• Gynecology: flagellate, diploid, upper ovary with an oblique septum, bicellular, placental abruption with many eggs, placenta attached to the armpit. 

• Fruit:  berry or capsule containing many seeds

Economic Importance

• Food: This family includes numerous plants that produce vegetables and other edible products. B. Solanum tuberosum (potato), Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato), Solanum melongena (eggplant), Capsicum annuum (chili pepper), etc. 

• Tobacco: Derived from the dried and weathered leaves of Nicotiana tabacum. It is a fumigation plant. 

• Medicines: Plants such as Atropa belladonna, Hyoscyamus niger, and Datura offer many valuable medicines. 

• Ornamental plants: Common ornamental plants are petunia, jessamine, etc.

3. Liliaceae

It is commonly referred to as the Liliaceae family and includes 250 genera and 3700 species. The plants that belong to this family are monocotyledonous. They are widespread all over the world.

Systematic Position

Class- Monocotyledonae

Series- Coronarieae

Family- Liliaceae

Vegetative Characters 

• Growth: A perennial herb with main rhizomes, tubers, and rhizomes. 

• Roots: Random, fibrous. 

• Stems: aerial or underground, herbaceous or woody. Leaf: Mainly with basal, alternating, linear, and parallel veins.

Floral Characters

• Inflorescence: Solitary/cymose, often in umbel-like clusters. 

• Flowers: Bisexual, active. 

• Perianth: Six tepals (3 + 3). Usually linked into a tube control valve. 

• Androcea: Stamens six, (3 + 3). 

• Gynoecium: Triangle, upper ovary, three carpels with multiple ovules, ovate placenta. 

• Fruit: Rarely berry, Capsule. 

• Seed: Endosperm

Economic Importance

• Food: Boil the young shoots and roots of asparagus. The bulbs of Allium cepa and Allium sativum are used as vegetables. 

• Medicines: Aloe is a source of medicines. Medicinal oil is prepared from the asparagus root. 

• Ornaments: Gloriosa and tulips are common ornamental plants. 

• Colchicine: Colchicumautumnale produces colchicine, which is used for chromosome replication.

Conclusion 

There are many flowering plants on our planet, which are divided into different families and subfamilies based on specific morphological characteristics. There are certain important families, such as legumes and legumes, which have diadelhus anthers in addition to grape anesthesia and nodules for nitrogen fixation. The Solanaceae or Potato family shows the association between corolla and stamens (petals) and calyxes. Solanaceae show bisexual flowers with the beautification of bar butter. Liliaceae or Liliaceae have bulbous roots with parallel leaves, the flowers of which are perianths and pituitary.