Question

Enumerate distinguishing characters of Liliaceae and Poaceae. Mention its economic importance.

Answer 1

Hint: Liliaceae and Poaceae are the families of monocotyledonous flowering plants that are having great economic importance and are found ubiquitously. Leaves of these monocot plants have parallel venation.

Complete Answer:

Sl.No	Liliaceae	Poaceae
1.	It is the characteristic representative of monocot, perennial flowering plants that are worldwide distributed.	It is the monocotyledonous flowering plant commonly known as grasses that are ubiquitous in nature.
2.	Leaves: simple, exstipulate and parallel venation (except Smilax).	Leaves: simple, exstipulate and parallel venation.
3.	Flower: complete, bisexual, trimerous, hypogynous and pentacyclic.	Flower: bracteate, incomplete and bisexual (except maize), irregular, zygomorphic, hypogynous and cyclic.
4.	Calyx and corolla are undifferentiated (called as Perianth): 6 in number and are arranged in two whorls.	Perianth is represented by membranous scales called lodicules.
5.	Androecium: 6 in number and are arranged in 2 whorls, antitepalous.	Androecium: Usually 3 in number but 6 is also found in Bambusa,Oryza.
6.	Gynaecium: tricarpellary, syncarpous ovary, trilocular with axile placentation.	Gynaecium: monocarpellary, superior ovary, unilocular with single ovule and having basal placentation.
7.	Fruit: capsule (Asphodelus, Gloriosa) or berry ( Asparagus).	Fruit: caryopsis and rarely nut or berry.
8.	Seed: endospermic	Seed: endospermic
9.	Example: Allium, Colchicum autumnale, Asphodelus, Aloe, Tulip, Gloriosa, Asparagus.	Example: Oryza, Triticum, Bambusa, Saccharum, Dendrocalamus
10.	Economic importance: Bulb of onion and garlic are edible and used as vegetables.	Economic importance: Rice,wheat,maize,jowar,oats are used as food grains.
11.	Resin is obtained from Dracaena and Xanthorrhoea species.	Saccharum officinarum cultivated for gur and sugar.
12.	Some have medicinal use like Aloe barbadensis giving a drug aloin having laxative property.	Secale cereale is cultivated for infection of its inflorescence by Claviceps purpurea for production of ergot.

Note: Ergotine is extracted from ergot which is used as an excellent remedy for uterine contraction.
- The Liliaceae family has undifferentiated tepals that resemble petals which are known as petaloid tepals.
- The poisonous roots of Gloriosa superba are used for the treatment of leprosy,gonorrhoea,piles and scorpion bite.