Question

Which of the following does not belong to Solanaceae
(a) Nicotina tobacum
(b) Withania somnifera
(c) Derris indica
(d) Lycopersicon esculentum

Answer 1

Hint: Plant subfamily in Bentham and hooker’s classification previously called a Papilionoideae family distributed in all parts of the world. This family contains about 8500 species under 450 genera.

Complete step by step answer:
The plants in the family Solanaceae are mostly herbs and have bi-collateral vascular bundles in stem and they have tap roots whereas the plants belong to the Fabaceae family are also mostly herbs and some are shrubs with nodular roots and have an erect prostrate woody stem. Examples of the plants belong to Solanaceae are Lycopersicon esculentum, Withania somnifera, and nicotina tobaccum, etc. Examples of the plants belonging to Fabaceae are derris indica, Arachis hypogea, Cajanus cajan.
So, the correct answer is ‘Derris indica’.

Additional information:
1. The family Solanaceae is commonly called the ‘potato family’.
2. There are about 2200species belonging to 75 genera.
3. They are widely distributed in mesophyte habitat.
4. Vegetative characters: these plants are mostly herbs and some shrubs
5. They have a tap root system. The stem is aerial, erect, and rarely woody. It contains bi-lateral vascular bundles. Leaves are cauline, exstipulate, petiolate.
6. Floral characters: they show cymose inflorescence, flowers are bracteate or ebracteate, actinomorphic, bisexual, and hypogynous. They have gamosepalous calyx, gamopetalous corolla, epipetalous androecium with 5 stamens.
7. Ovary is superior,bicarpellary, syncarpous, bilocular. The placenta is swollen with many ovules on the axial placentation.
8. Examples: Atropa belladonna, Capsicum frutescens, Nicotina tobacum, Solanum melongena, Solanum tuberosum, etc.

Note: Some of the exceptions in the Solanaceae family are:
Cestum is a shrub, twisted aestivation is seen in datura, the unilocular ovary is seen in chilies.
Plants belonging to the Solanaceae family are sources of vegetables and are used to produce chemical substances of medicinal value. Derris indica is commonly known as kanuga or petro plant.