Question

Explain in detail all the features of solanaceae with examples

Answer 1

It is a large family commonly called as potato family.It is widely distributed in tropics ,subtropics and even temperate zones .

Vegetative characters

1) Plants are mostly herbs ,shrubs and small tree .

2)Stem is herbaceous rarely, woody ,aerial,erect, cylindrical, branched solid or hollow ,hairy or glabrous, underground stem in potato .

3)Leaves - Leaves are alternate ,simple rarely pinnately compound, exstipulate venation reticulate .

Floral characters

1) Inflorescence - Solitary, axillary or cymose as in solanum.

2) Flower - Bisexual, actinomorphic

3)Calyx - Sepals five ,united, persistent, valvate aestivation

4) Corolla - Petals five, united valvate aestivation

5) Androecium - Stamens five, epipetalous

6) Gynoecium - Bicarpellary, syncarpous, ovary superior , bilocular, placenta swollen with many ovules

7)Fruit - Berry or capsule

8)Seeds - Are many and endospermous

Economic importance -

Many plants belonging to this family are source of

1)Food- tomato,potato, brinjal

2)Spices- chilli

3)Medicine - belladonna ,ashvagandha

4)Fumigatory -tobacco

5) Ornamental - petunia