Tag: study of some important families

Fabaceae is known as Leguminosae or bean and pea family. This single monophyletic family has three sub-families such as Mimosoideae, Caesalpinioideae and Papilionoideae.
While the family is characterized by presence of five sepals, zygomorphic flower, gamesepelous and has an imbricate aestivation, the placentation is marginal with one elongated placenta on one side of the ovary (superior) and ovules attached at the fusion of the carpel's margins and not axile ( where the ovary is sectioned by radial spokes with placentas in separate locules).
Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

Macrosclereids are elongated sclerieds usually found in outer layer of seed coat of legume seeds. These cells are responsible for restricting water uptake by hard seeded legumes. These are found in Fabaceae. 

The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea or bean family, are a large and economically important family of flowering plants. It includes trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants perennials or annuals, which are easily recognized by their fruit and their compound, stipulated leaves. The group is widely distributed and is the third-largest land plant family in terms of number of species, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 630 genera and over 18,860 species. So, Fabaceae is an alternative of Leguminosae and not Solanaceae, Compositae and Malvaceae. 
Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

Placentation refers to the arrangement of ovules inside the ovary. The ovary in which the placenta forms a ridge along the ventral suture of the ovary and the ovules develop on two separate rows is known to have marginal placentation. It is characteristic of legumes like pea.

Papilionaceous corolla is characterised with butterfly-shape because the petals are of different sizes and they show descending pattern of imbrication. The largest posterior petal is called vexillum and it overlaps the lateral petals called wings. The wings overlap the innermost fused petals called keel or carina. It is a characteristic of the family Fabaceae.

Cercis siliquastrum, commonly known as the Judas tree or Judas-tree, is a small deciduous tree from Southern Europe and Western Asia which is noted for its prolific display of deep pink flowers in spring. This species forms a small tree up to 12 m (39 ft) in height and 10 m (32 ft) in width. The deep pink flowers are produced on year-old or older growth, including the trunk, in spring. Also, the flowers display a blossom with five free petals and fused sepals. This shape is specific to the Fabaceae. The leaves appear shortly after the first flowers emerge. These are cordate with a blunt apex, which occasionally has a shallow notch at the tip. The tree produces long flat pods that hang vertically. The flowers are edible and purportedly have a sweet-acid taste. There is a belief that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from a tree of this species. Another possible source for the vernacular name is the fact that the flowers and seed pods can dangle direct from the trunk in a way reminiscent of Judas's possible method of suicide.

Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea and bean family are a large and economically important family of flowering plants. It includes trees, herbs, shrubs and rarely woody climbers. Leaves are usually pinnately compound with a pulvinate base, flowers are zygomorphic, Corolla is papilionaceous, posterior petal innermost, sepals free, odd sepal is anterior. Hence, odd sepal is characteristic in family Fabaceae.

Liquorice is the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra from which sweet flavour can be extracted. The liquorice plant is a herbaceous, perennial legume native to southern Europe and parts of Asia such as India. Liquorice root extracts are used in herbal and traditional medicine. It is used as an expectorant (promotes the secretion of sputum from air passages) in the treatment of coughs. So, the correct answer is 'Root'.

Aeschynomene is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Fabaceae. They are commonly known as joint vetches. These legumes are more common in warm regions and many species are aquatic.