Taxonomy | CEE Academy

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PLANT FAMILIES

Table 1: Important Families

Family	Common name	Important point
Brassicaceae / Cruciferae	Mustard family	Mostly herbs; pungent watery juice
Solanaceae	Potato / nightshade family	Bicollateral vascular bundle; oblique ovary
Fabaceae / Leguminosae / Papilionoideae	Pea / pulse family	2nd largest dicot family; legume fruit
Asteraceae / Compositae	Sunflower family	Largest angiosperm family; head/capitulum
Poaceae / Graminae	Grass family	Largest monocot family; spikelet unit
Liliaceae	Lily family	Monocot family; perianth present
Malvaceae	Cotton family	Monoadelphous stamens common

📖

Brassicaceae / cruciferae / mustard family

▢ General Characters:

•
Mostly hairy herbs
•
Pungent watery juice
•
Sulphur-containing glucosides present
•
Oil-secreting glands with myrosin enzyme

▢ Inflorescence:

Table 1: Inflorescence in Brassicaceae

Type	Example
Typical raceme	Radish
Corymb	Iberis amara
Corymbose raceme	Brassica campestris

▢ Flower:

❖ Floral Formula: Ebr. ⊕ ⚥ K₂₊₂ C₄ A₂₊₄ G₍₂₎

Table 1: Floral Characters

Character	Condition
Bract	Ebracteate
Symmetry	Actinomorphic
Sex	Bisexual
Merism	Tetramerous
Ovary position	Hypogynous
Calyx	Sepals 2+2
Corolla	Petals 4
Androecium	Stamens 2+4; tetradynamous; nectaries at base
Gynoecium	Bicarpellary, syncarpous, superior
Ovary	Initially unilocular; bilocular at maturity due to false septum / replum
Placentation	Parietal

❖ Mnemonic: SO₂ → short outer 2 stamens

▢ Fruit:

Table 1: Fruit Types

Fruit	Point	Example
Siliqua	Long dry dehiscent fruit	Mustard, radish
Silicula	Short / condensed siliqua	Iberis amara

▢ Examples:

Table 1: Brassicaceae Examples

Plant (Scientific name and Common name
Brassica campestris (Mustard)
Brassica oleracea var. botrytis (Cauliflower)
Brassica oleracea var. capitata (Cabbage)
Brassica rapa (Turnip)
Raphanus sativus (Radish)
Iberis amara (Candytuft)
Cheiranthus cheiri (Wall flower)
Capsella bursa-pastoris (Shepherd's purse)
Lepidium sativum (Garden cress / Chamsur)
Rorippa montana (Water cress)

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Solanaceae

▢ General Characters:

•
Bicollateral vascular bundle in stem
•
Phloem present on both sides of xylem
•
Leaves alternate in vegetative region
•
Leaves sub-opposite in floral region

▢ Flower:

❖ Floral Formula: Ebr. ⊕ / % ⚥ K₍₅₎ C₍₅₎ A₅ G₍₂₎

Table 1: Floral Characters of Solanaceae

Part	Condition
Symmetry	Slightly zygomorphic due to oblique ovary
Calyx	5 sepals, gamosepalous, persistent
Corolla	5 petals, gamopetalous
Androecium	5 stamens
Anther	Dithecous, introse
Anther fixation	Basifixed or dorsifixed
Stamen condition	Polyandrous, epipetalous, alternipetalous
Gynoecium	Bicarpellary, syncarpous
Ovary	Superior, obliquely placed
Oblique septum	Due to twisted carpels
Disc	Hypogynous nectariferous disc at base of ovary
Placentation	Axile with swollen placenta
Ovules	Numerous

▢ Fruit:

Table 1: Fruit Types

Fruit	Example
Capsule	Datura
Berry	Tomato

▢ Examples:

Table 1: Solanaceae Examples

Plant
Solanum tuberosum (Potato)
Solanum melongena (Brinjal)
Solanum nigrum (Black nightshade / Jangali bihin)
Lycopersicon esculentum (Tomato)
Nicotiana tabacum (Tobacco)
Capsicum annuum (Chilli / Khursani)
Cestrum nocturnum (Night jasmine / Raat ki Rani)
Cestrum diurnum (Day king)
Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha / Winter cherry)
Datura metel (Dhatura / Thorn apple)
Atropa belladonna (Roots source of atropine)
Physalis peruviana (Rasbhari)

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Fabaceae / leguminosae / papilionoideae

▢ General Characters:

•
2nd largest family of dicotyledons
•
3rd largest family of angiosperms
•
Leaves alternate
•
Leaves stipulate
•
Pulvinous leaf base present
•
Leafy stipules common

▢ Flower:

❖ Floral Formula: Br. % ⚥ K₍₅₎ C_1+2+(2) A₁₊₍₉₎ G₁

Table 1: Floral Characters of Fabaceae

Part	Condition
Bract	Bracteate
Symmetry	Zygomorphic
Sex	Bisexual
Calyx	5 sepals, gamosepalous, persistent
Old sepal	Anterior
Corolla	5 petals, polypetalous
Corolla type	Papilionaceous / butterfly-shaped
Petal arrangement	Standard 1 + wings 2 + keel 2
Androecium	10 stamens
Stamen condition	Diadelphous → 9 fused + 1 free
Gynoecium	Monocarpellary
Ovary	Superior, unilocular
Placentation	Marginal

▢ Fruit:

Table 1: Fruit Types

Fruit	Point
Legume / Pod	Common fruit
Lomentum	Segmented legume

▢ Examples:

Table 1: Fabaceae Examples

Plant
Pisum sativum (Garden pea / Pea)
Cicer arietinum (Chickpea / Gram / Bengal gram)
Cajanus cajan (Pigeon pea / Red gram / Arhar)
Vigna radiata (Green gram / Moong)
Vigna mungo (Black gram / Urd)
Vigna sinensis (Cowpea / Lobia)
Lens culinaris / Lens esculenta (Lentil / Masoor)
Glycine max (Soybean / Bhatmas)
Arachis hypogaea (Groundnut / Peanut)
Dolichos lablab (Sem)
Lathyrus sativus (Grass pea / Khesari dal)
Dalbergia sissoo (Shisham / Indian red wood)
Butea monosperma (Palas / Dhak / Flame of the forest)
Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet pea)
Abrus precatorius (Ratti / Crab's eye; seeds used by jewellers)
Crotalaria juncea (Sunn hemp; bast fibre and green manure crop)

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Asteraceae / compositae / sunflower family

▢ General Characters:

•
Largest family of angiosperms
•
Most advanced / highly evolved family
•
Stems and roots usually with oil ducts / oil passages
•
Milky sap present in many species

▢ Inflorescence: Head / Capitulum

▢ Flower:

Table 1: Ray Floret vs Disc Floret

Feature	Ray floret	Disc floret
Position	Peripheral	Central
Sex	Unisexual / pistillate	Bisexual
Shape	Ligulate / tongue-like	Tubular
Ovary position	Epigynous	Epigynous
Stalk	Sessile	Sessile
Calyx	Modified into pappus / scale	Modified into pappus / scale
Corolla	5 petals, gamopetalous, ligulate	5 petals, gamopetalous, tubular
Androecium	Absent	5 stamens, epipetalous, syngenesious
Gynoecium	Bicarpellary, syncarpous	Bicarpellary, syncarpous
Ovary	Unilocular, inferior	Unilocular, inferior
Placentation	Basal	Basal
Fruit	Cypsela with/without pappus	Cypsela with/without pappus
Floral formula		◉ Female: ◉ Bisexual: ◉ Neuter:

❖ Syngenesious Stamen: Anthers united into tube; filaments free

▢ Examples:

Table 1: Asteraceae Examples

Plant	Common name
Helianthus annuus	Sunflower
Tagetes spp.	Marigold / Genda
Chrysanthemum spp.	Guldaudi

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Poaceae / graminae / grass family

▢ General Characters:

•
Largest family among monocots
•
Mostly herbs
•
Stem = culm
•
Stem jointed with distinct nodes and internodes
•
Leaves with sheathing leaf base
•
Ligule present at junction of leaf sheath and leaf lamina

▢ Inflorescence:

❖ Unit: Spikelet

❖ Types:

◉ Spike of spikelets e.g. wheat:

◉ Panicle of spikelets:

❖ Spikelet Structure:

Table 1: Spikelet Parts

Part	Meaning
Spikelet	Unit of inflorescence, not a single flower
Rachis	Reduced axis bearing 1–5 flowers
Glumes	Two basal leaf-like structures
Lemma	Bract in whose axil flower occurs
Palea	Bracteole on flower axis
Lodicules	Reduced perianth
Stamens	Usually 3
Ovary	Superior, monocarpellary

▢ Flower:

❖ Floral Formula:

Br. Brl. % ⚥ P₂ A₃ G₁

Table 1: Floral Characters of Poaceae

Character	Condition
Bract	Bracteate and bracteolate
Stalk	Sessile
Sex	Bisexual
Merism	Trimerous
Symmetry	Zygomorphic
Ovary position	Hypogynous
Perianth	Usually 2 lodicules
Androecium	Usually 3 pendulous stamens
Anther	Versatile
Gynoecium	Monocarpellary
Ovary	Superior
Ovule	Single
Placentation	Basal
Style	Short or absent

▢ Fruit: Caryopsis

▢ Examples:

Table 1: Poaceae Examples

Plant
Oryza sativa (Rice)
Triticum aestivum (Wheat)
Zea mays (Maize)
Avena sativa (Oat)
Hordeum vulgare (Barley)
Bambusa arundinacea (Bamboo)
Saccharum officinarum (Sugarcane)

📖

Liliaceae family

▢ General Characters:

❖ Common Name: Lily family

❖ Habit: Mostly perennial herbs; some are climbers.

❖ Habitat: Commonly terrestrial.

❖ Root: Adventitious and fibrous; underground storage structures such as bulbs or rhizomes may be present.

❖ Stem: Usually herbaceous; may be underground as bulb or rhizome.

❖ Leaves:

•
Usually simple
•
Mostly alternate
•
Sessile or sometimes petiolate
•
Parallel venation
•
Leaf base may be sheathing

▢ Inflorescence:

❖ Condition: Usually racemose; flowers may also be solitary.

❖ Examples: Raceme, spike, umbel or solitary flower depending on the genus.

▢ Floral Characters:

Table 1: Floral Characters of Liliaceae

Part	Condition
Flower	Bracteate or ebracteate, pedicellate
Symmetry	Actinomorphic
Sex	Bisexual
Number of floral parts	Trimerous
Ovary position	Hypogynous; ovary superior
Perianth	6 tepals arranged in two whorls of 3 + 3
Tepals	Usually petaloid
Androecium	6 stamens arranged in two whorls of 3 + 3
Stamen condition	Usually epiphyllous
Anther	Dithecous
Gynoecium	Tricarpellary and syncarpous
Ovary	Superior and trilocular
Placentation	Axile
Ovules	Usually many in each locule

▢ Floral Formula: \(\oplus\; \⚥\; P_{3+3}\; A_{3+3}\; G_{(3)}\)

▢ Important Floral Points:

•
Sepals and petals are not distinctly differentiated; together they form the perianth.
•
Perianth consists of 6 petaloid tepals arranged as 3 + 3.
•
Stamens are 6 and usually epiphyllous.
•
Gynoecium is tricarpellary and syncarpous.
•
Ovary is superior, trilocular and shows axile placentation.

▢ Fruit:

•
Capsule
•
Berry in some members

▢ Seed: Usually endospermic.

▢ Pollination: Usually entomophilous, i.e. pollinated by insects.

▢ Examples:

Table 1: Liliaceae Examples

Plant
Lilium (Lily)
Tulipa (Tulip)
Gloriosa superba (Glory lily)
Asparagus officinalis (Asparagus)
Aloe vera (Aloe)
Colchicum autumnale (Autumn crocus)

▢ Economic Importance:

Table 1: Economic Importance of Liliaceae

Use	Example
Ornamental	Lilium, Tulipa, Gloriosa
Vegetable	Asparagus officinalis
Medicinal	Aloe vera
Source of colchicine	Colchicum autumnale

▢ Quick Identification:

•
Monocot herb
•
Parallel venation
•
Flower trimerous
•
6 petaloid tepals
•
6 epiphyllous stamens
•
Tricarpellary syncarpous gynoecium
•
Superior trilocular ovary
•
Axile placentation

▢ MCQ Points:

Q1.

The flowers of Liliaceae are generally:

Q2.

The perianth of Liliaceae consists of:

Q3.

The stamens in Liliaceae are generally:

Q4.

Stamens of Liliaceae are commonly:

Q5.

The gynoecium of Liliaceae is:

Q6.

Placentation in Liliaceae is generally:

Q7.

The ovary in Liliaceae is generally:

📖

Malvaceae / cotton family

▢ Example:

Table 1: Malvaceae Example

Plant	Common name
Gossypium hirsutum	Cotton plant

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Other family plants

Table 1: Miscellaneous

Plant	Common name / Family
Ocimum sanctum	Tulsi / Lamiaceae

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Family comparison

Table 1: Important Family Comparison

Family	Inflorescence	Flower	Androecium	Gynoecium	Placentation	Fruit
Brassicaceae	Raceme / corymb / corymbose raceme	Ebracteate, actinomorphic, bisexual, tetramerous, hypogynous	2+4; tetradynamous	Bicarpellary, syncarpous, superior	Parietal	Siliqua / silicula
Solanaceae	Usually solitary / cymose	Slightly zygomorphic, bisexual, hypogynous	5, epipetalous, alternipetalous	Bicarpellary, syncarpous, superior, oblique	Axile	Capsule / berry
Fabaceae	Racemose	Bracteate, zygomorphic, bisexual, hypogynous	10; diadelphous 9+1	Monocarpellary, superior	Marginal	Legume / lomentum
Asteraceae	Head / capitulum	Epigynous, sessile; ray + disc florets	5, epipetalous, syngenesious in disc floret	Bicarpellary, syncarpous, inferior	Basal	Cypsela
Poaceae	Spikelet	Bracteate, bracteolate, zygomorphic, bisexual, hypogynous	3, pendulous, versatile	Monocarpellary, superior	Basal	Caryopsis

📖

Family-wise fruit

Table 1: Fruit Types

Family	Fruit
Brassicaceae / Cruciferae	Siliqua / silicula
Solanaceae	Capsule / berry
Fabaceae / Leguminosae	Legume / pod / lomentum
Asteraceae / Compositae	Cypsela
Poaceae / Graminae	Caryopsis

📖

High-yield recall

Table 1: Plant Families One-Liners

Fact	Answer
Mustard family	Brassicaceae / Cruciferae
Pungent watery juice	Brassicaceae
Myrosin enzyme	Brassicaceae
Tetradynamous stamens	Brassicaceae
False septum in ovary	Replum
Fruit of Brassicaceae	Siliqua / silicula
Silicula example	Iberis amara
Solanaceae vascular bundle	Bicollateral
Oblique ovary	Solanaceae
Persistent calyx	Solanaceae
Fruit of tomato	Berry
Fruit of Datura	Capsule
Atropine source	Atropa belladonna
Pea family	Fabaceae / Leguminosae
Papilionaceous corolla	Fabaceae
Diadelphous stamens	Fabaceae
Marginal placentation	Fabaceae
Fruit of Fabaceae	Legume / pod
Flame of the forest	Butea monosperma
Ratti seed	Abrus precatorius
Green manure crop	Crotalaria juncea
Largest angiosperm family	Asteraceae
Most advanced family	Asteraceae
Inflorescence of Asteraceae	Head / capitulum
Peripheral floret	Ray floret
Central floret	Disc floret
Syngenesious stamens	Asteraceae
Fruit of Asteraceae	Cypsela
Largest monocot family	Poaceae
Stem of grasses	Culm
Inflorescence unit of Poaceae	Spikelet
Perianth of Poaceae	Lodicules
Anther of Poaceae	Versatile
Fruit of Poaceae	Caryopsis
Rice	Oryza sativa
Wheat	Triticum aestivum
Maize	Zea mays
Sugarcane	Saccharum officinarum
Onion	Allium cepa
Garlic	Allium sativum
Cotton plant	Gossypium hirsutum
Tulsi	Ocimum sanctum

Q1.

Corolla with claw and blade is found in

📅CEE MBBS 2025

Q2.

Which is not a characteristic of Liliaceae?

📅CEE MBBS 2025

Q3.

Brinjal, potato, tomato, onion and ginger belong to

📅CEE MBBS 2025

Q4.

Which statement about Solanaceae is false?

📅CEE MBBS 2024B

Q5.

In a papilionaceous corolla, the large outer petal is called:

📅CEE MBBS 2024a

Q6.

Which is NOT characteristic of Brassicaceae?

📅CEE MBBS 2024a

Q7.

Potato, tomato, brinjal, mustard and cauliflower belong to how many families?

📅CEE BDS 2024

Q8.

Scientific name of brinjal is:

📅CEE BDS 2024

Q9.

Which floral formula is characteristic of Brassicaceae?

📅CEE Nursing 2024

Q10.

Solanaceae generally shows which placentation?

📅CEE Nursing 2024

Q11.

A siliqua develops from a:

📅CEE MBBS 2023

Q12.

The sexual system of plant classification was developed by:

📅CEE MBBS 2023

Q13.

Which taxonomic rank has the least similarity among members?

📅CEE MBBS 2023

Q14.

In Solanaceae, the placenta is often:

📅CEE BDS 2023

Q15.

The scientific name of sunflower is:

📅CEE MBBS 2022

Q16.

The characteristic fruit of Poaceae is:

📅CEE MBBS 2021

30Taxonomy

Table 1: Important Families

Table 1: Inflorescence in Brassicaceae

Table 1: Floral Characters

Table 1: Fruit Types

Table 1: Brassicaceae Examples

Table 1: Floral Characters of Solanaceae

Table 1: Fruit Types

Table 1: Solanaceae Examples

Table 1: Floral Characters of Fabaceae

Table 1: Fruit Types

Table 1: Fabaceae Examples

Table 1: Ray Floret vs Disc Floret

Table 1: Asteraceae Examples

Table 1: Spikelet Parts

Table 1: Floral Characters of Poaceae

Table 1: Poaceae Examples

Table 1: Floral Characters of Liliaceae

Table 1: Liliaceae Examples

Table 1: Economic Importance of Liliaceae

Table 1: Malvaceae Example

Table 1: Miscellaneous

Table 1: Important Family Comparison

Table 1: Fruit Types

Table 1: Plant Families One-Liners

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