Taxonomy | CEE Academy

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PLANT FAMILIES

▢ General Family Points:

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	Common name / Use
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

▢ 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	Common name / Point
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

▢ 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) C1+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

Category	Plant	Common name / Point
Pulses	Pisum sativum	Garden pea / pea
Pulses	Cicer arietinum	Chickpea / gram / Bengal gram
Pulses	Cajanus cajan	Pigeon pea / red gram / arhar
Pulses	Vigna radiata	Green gram / moong
Pulses	Vigna mungo	Black gram / urd
Pulses	Vigna sinensis	Cowpea / lobia
Pulses	Lens culinaris / Lens esculenta	Lentil / masoor
Oil / pulse	Glycine max	Soybean / bhatmas
Oilseed	Arachis hypogaea	Groundnut / peanut
Vegetable	Dolichos lablab	Sem
Pulse	Lathyrus sativus	Grass pea / khesari dal
Timber	Dalbergia sissoo	Shisham / Indian red wood
Ornamental	Butea monosperma	Palas / Dhak; flame of the forest
Ornamental	Lathyrus odoratus	Sweet pea
Miscellaneous	Abrus precatorius	Ratti / crab's eye; seeds used by jewellers; each seed ≈ 1.75 g
Miscellaneous	Crotalaria juncea	Sunn hemp; bast fibres; green manure crop

▢ 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

◉ 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

▢ 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	Common name
Oryza sativa	Rice
Triticum aestivum	Wheat
Zea mays	Maize
Avena sativa	Oat
Hordeum vulgare	Barley
Bambusa arundinacea	Bamboo
Saccharum officinarum	Sugarcane

▢ Liliaceae / Lily Family:

❖ Examples:

Table 1: Liliaceae Examples

Plant	Common name
Allium cepa	Onion
Allium sativum	Garlic
Aloe vera	Ghiukumari
Asparagus racemosus	Kurilo
Lilium sp.	Lily
Colchicum autumnale	Autumn crocus
Yucca	Kettuke

▢ Malvaceae / Cotton Family:

❖ Example:

Table 1: Malvaceae Example

Plant	Common name
Gossypium hirsutum	Cotton plant

▢ Other Family Plants:

Table 1: Miscellaneous

Plant	Common name / Family
Ocimum sanctum	Tulsi / Lamiaceae

▢ 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

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: Liliaceae Examples

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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