Question

Indian Telegraph plant (Desmodium gyrans) belongs to
A. Malvaceae
B. Leguminosae
C. Solanaceae
D. Liliaceae

Answer 1

Hint: It is a large and most important family of the flowering plants which is commonly known as the bean family having fused sepals as the characteristic feature.

Complete answer:
Desmodium gyrans, commonly known as the Indian Telegraph plant. It belongs to the family Leguminosae, also known as family Fabaceae. It is commonly called pea or legume family.

Additional Information:
 -The word Faba was derived from the Latin language which means the bean.
-The family Leguminosae is an older name for the family Fabaceae.
-The process of biological nitrogen fixation occurs in the family Leguminosae as the legumes are present in this family.
-It is most commonly found in the tropical rain forests and the dry forests of Africa and America.
-Desmodium is botanically known as Codariocalyx motorius.
-It is the group of few plants which show rapid movement including Mimosa pudica, and the Venus flytrap.
-The plant is small and has purple flowers.
-The leaves move at rapid speeds to maximize the light at the trophic level.
-Each leaf absorbs more energy because the weight of the leaves is more and the plant needs to spend more energy on its movement.
-These movements may form a butterfly mimicry which stops the eggs of the butterflies in the leaves.
-The leaves rotate about 3-6 minutes.
-The plant is described in detail in Charles Darwin The Power of Movement in plants'

So, the correct answer is ‘Leguminosae’.

Note: The plant Desmodium gyrans is described in detail in 1880 by Charles Darwin, in his book ‘The Power of Movements in Plants’. It has been used as an ornament in a garden. They are erect plants but totally on their axes and move up and down under the influence of the sunshine.