Question

Bicarpellary, syncarpous ovary with axile placentation is seen in
(a) Solanaceae
(b) Caesalpiniaceae
(c) Asteraceae
(d) Malvaceae

Answer 1

Hint: A large family, commonly called the ‘potato family’. It is widely distributed in tropics, subtropics and temperate zones. Many plants belonging to this family are a source of food (tomato, brinjal, potato), spice (chili).

Complete step-by-step answer:
Bicarpellary, syncarpous ovary with axile placentation is seen in Solanaceae.
To understand better let’s learn about these terms in detail.
In the flower, androecium that includes stamens represents the male reproductive organs, and gynoecium consisting of pistils represents the female reproductive organs. Stigma, style, and ovary together make a pistil. The gynoecium may have a single pistil (monocarpellary) or may consist of more than one pistil (multicarpellary).
When there are more than one, the pistils may be fused (syncarpous) or maybe free (apocarpous).
Placentation, on the other hand, is the arrangement of ovules within the ovary. It is of different kinds namely, marginal, axile, parietal, basal, central, and free central.
When the placenta is axial and the ovules are attached to it in a multilocular ovary, such placentation is said to be axile. Examples of this type are china rose, tomato, and lemon.

Additional Information:
- Inflorescence in Solanaceae Solitary, axillary, or cymose as seen in Solanum.
- Flower: bisexual, actinomorphic.
- Calyx: sepals five, united, persistent, valvate aestivation.
- Corolla: petals five, united; valvate aestivation.
- Androecium: stamens five, epipetalous
- The gynoecium is bicarpellary obligately placed, syncarpous; the ovary is superior, bilocular, the placenta is swollen, with many ovules.
- Fruits: berry or capsule.
- Seeds: many, endospermous.
So, the correct answer is ‘Solanaceae’.

Note: Solanaceae are also called as nightshades. Hence, if ‘nightshades’ are given in the options instead of Solanaceae go for that option. Sometimes leaving all that, examples of the plants that come under this family may be given, for example, medicine (belladonna, ashwagandha); fumigatory (tobacco); ornamentals (petunia).