Question

Ebracteate flowers are mainly found in-
A. Solanaceae
B. Malvaceae
C. Cruciferae
D. Liliaceae

Answer 1

Hint: The term bract means a modified or specialized leaf, particularly the one which is associated with a reproductive part like a flower or an inflorescence axis. Bracts sometimes differ from foliage leaves. They appear different from floral parts like petals and sepals. When a flower is present with a bract it is called a bracteate flower and a flower lacks bract it is referred to as an ebracteate flower.

Complete answer: Bracts are found in different varieties; some bracts are brightly colored to attract the pollinators, sometimes they are present with perianth or sometimes without it. Bracts could also be referred to as reduced leaf which is present at the base of the pedicel (stalk of the flower). There are plants in which the structure of flowers is extremely uniform throughout the family to which the plant belongs. In the Cruciferae family, there are four sepals which are free saccate, and petals that are four and clawed free, staggered. They are named Cruciferae because the flowers could be dissymmetric or somewhat zygomorphic with a typical cross-like arrangement. Flowers of the Cruciferae family are ebracteate.
Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: The flowers of this family have six stamens, of which four are longer and seem to be arranged in cross-like petals and the rest two are shorter, called tetradynamous flowers. The pistil is made up of two carpels that are fused and a very short style, having two lobes. A superior ovary is seen here. The flowers form ebracteate racemose inflorescences, often appearing corymb-like. Flowers of the families like Solanaceae, Malvaceae, and Liliaceae have flowers with bracts, they have bracteate flowers.