Question

Datura belongs to the family
a. Asteraceae
b. Solanaceae
c. Liliaceae
d. Poaceae

Answer 1

Hint: The common name of datura is thorn apple, jimsonweed but is also known as devil’s trumpets. It is a poisonous flowering plant due to the presence of alkaloids such as atropine, scopolamine which are highly toxic.

Complete answer:
> Asteraceae, also called Compositae is a family of flowering plants. The characteristic feature of the flower of these families is the presence of a flower head that is composed of many small flowers. The leaves are either simple or compound and their arrangement may be opposite, alternate, or less commonly whorled, along the stem. The fruit produced by members of this family is called an achene (which is dry and single-seeded). Roots generally possess a tap root system but sometimes possess a fibrous root system. It is one of the largest plant families that include flowers like common daisy, sunflower, marigold, dahlia, etc.

> Solanaceae or nightshades are a family of flowering plants that are known to contain potent alkaloids and some are highly toxic but many of them such as tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant are used as food. The flowers of this family can be solitary or grouped into a terminal, cymose inflorescence. The leaves can be simple or pinnately compound and their arrangement along the stem may be alternate. Members of this family possess fruit that is in the form of a capsule. Seeds of this family are generally endospermic. The members of this family possess a tap root system. This family includes tomato, potato, datura, etc.

> Liliaceae, a family of lilies, is characterized by the presence of large flowers with its parts arranged in threes: 6 colored petaloid tepals (petals and sepals are not differentiated) arranged in two whorls, six stamens, and a superior ovary. The members of this family are monocotyledonous and possess a fibrous root system. This family includes tulips, lilies, etc.

> The Poaceae family consists of monocotyledonous flowering plants, known as grasses. It is also called as Gramineae. Members of this family possess small flowers that are arranged in spikelets. They possess an adventitious root system and include plants like bamboo, barley, rice, wheat, etc.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note: Datura is a poisonous flowering plant belonging to the family Solanaceae because of the presence of solitary flowers and the fruit is a spiny capsule that splits open on maturation.