Write down the major features of family Solanaceae.
Answers
Explanation:
It is a large family commonly called as potato family.
Vegetative Characters
Stem: herbaceous rarely woody, aerial, erect, cylindrical, branched, solid or hollow, hairy or glabrous, underground stem in potato.
Leaves: alternate, simple, rarely pinnately compound, exstipulate; reticulate venation.
Floral Characters
Inflorescence: Solitary, axillary or cymose as in Solanum.
Flower: bisexual, actinomorphic.
Calyx: sepals five, united persistent, valvate aestivation.
Corolla:petals five, united, valvate aestivation.
Androecium: stamens five, epipetalous.
Gynoecium:bicarpellary, syncarpous; superior ovary, bilocular, placenta swollen with many ovules.
Fruits: berry or capsule.
Seeds: Many, endospermous
Floral formula:
Economic Importance:-
Medicinal plants:-belladonna, ashwagandha, datura(stramonium leaves dried and used as asthma medicine).
Food plants:-various vegetables like the tomato, potato, brinjal etc are belongs to this family.
Spice:-Chili.
Tobacco plants which a source of alkaloid nicotine belongs to this family.
Ornamentals:-Petunia is well known for its different colored flowers