Question

A family whose name is based upon its inflorescence is
A) Euphorbiaceae
B) Asteraceae
C) Fabaceae
D) Malvaceae

Answer 1

Hint: A collection or grouping of flowers clustered on a stem consisting of a main branch or a complex arrangement of branches is known as an inflorescence. It is the transformed portion of the seed plant's shoot where flowers are produced morphologically.

Complete answer:
Now let us look at the given options:
A) Euphorbiaceae: The spurge tribe, Euphorbiaceae, is a diverse group of flowering plants. The family name Euphorbiaceae is not based upon its inflorescence but it is based on the presence of spurges, and hence this is not the correct option.

B) Asteraceae: The Asteraceae family of flowering plants (Angiospermae) is huge and widespread. The name Asteraceae is derived from Aster, the most well-known genus in the family, which derives from the Greek word meaning "star" and is associated with its star-shaped inflorescence. Hence this is the correct option.

C) Fabaceae: The Fabaceae family of flowering plants, also known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a significant and economically important flowering plant family. The family name Fabaceae is not based upon its inflorescence but it is due to legumes, and hence this is not the correct option.

D) Malvaceae: The Malvaceae, or mallows, are a flowering plant family with an estimated 244 genera with 4225 species. The family name Malvaceae is not based upon its inflorescence but it is based on the presence of mallows, and hence this is not the correct option.

The family whose name is based upon its inflorescence is Asteraceae. Therefore, the correct option is (B) Asteraceae.

Note: Racemose and Cymose are the two forms of inflorescence. In the racemose inflorescence, the main axis begins to rise and produce flowers laterally. The main axis of a cymose inflorescence grows slowly and eventually ends in a flower.