Question

Which one has the largest number of genera and species of plants?
(a) Malvaceae
(b) Liliaceae
(c) Brassicaceae
(d) Asteraceae

Answer 1

Hint: This family includes herbs, shrubs, or trees and most of them are xerophytes, hydrophytes, and semi-aquatic. Most of the plants belonging to this family have medicinal values used in dropsy, providing relief in bowel disorders.

Correct step by step answer:
Asteraceae or Compositae, commonly popular as the Sunflower family has the largest number of genera and species of plants. This is a very large and widespread family of flowering plants.
The Asteraceae family has 32,913 accepted species names along with 1,911 genera and 13 subfamilies.
Plants of this family have modified taproot i.e., tuber and the stem might be hairy, woody, and erect which sometimes contain latex. Their leaves are radical and petiolate. They have tubular, bisexual or unisexual flowers, usually dithecous, filament free with united anthers. The androecium is an absent and indifferent species gynoecium may or may not present.
- In terms of numbers of species next to the Asteraceae family is the Orchidaceae family.
- Liliaceae is a family of around 2500 species of perennial, herbaceous monocots. It is also known as the ‘lily family’.
- Nearly 25 genera along with 1500 species are included that are widely spread in tropical and temperate regions. In India alone, the Malvaceae family is represented by 22 genera and about 125 species.
- Plants of the family Brassicaceae are generally herbs, annuals, biennials, or shrubs.
Due to food storage characteristics, their taproots are swollen. Their stem is erect, herbaceous, and rarely woody.
So, the correct answer is 'Asteraceae'..

Note:
- Their seeds are an important source of oil.
- Most of the plants belonging to the Asteraceae family have medicinal values. For example in dropsy, Solidago is used, artemisia yields santonin, in bowel disorders the juices and roots of a few plants are used and have a cooling effect.
- This family is an important source of food. The leaves and roots of a few angiosperms are edible such as Lactuca sativa and Helianthus tuberosus.