Question

Pentamerous, actinomorphic flowers, bicarpellary ovary with oblique septa, and fruit a capsule or berry, are characteristic features of-
A. Liliaceae
B. Asteraceae
C. Brassicaceae
D. Solanaceae

Answer 1

A pentamerous flower consists of floral parts which have petals, sepals and are arranged in multiples of five and the flowers of actinomorphic possess “radial”, “star-shaped” symmetry because it can be bisected at any point into two equal halves in more than one plane.

Complete answer:
-Members of Solanaceae are characterised by the presence of pentamerous actinomorphic flowers and the gynoecium is syncarpous. By forming two carpels, it possesses bicarpellary with a superior bilocular ovary. In the family Solanaceae, many swollen ovules are seen in each locule which shows axile placentation and an obliquely placed septum occurs due to shifting in the position of the ovary.
-The characteristics of the family Liliaceae includes Trimerous bisexual actinomorphic flowers along with the tricarpellary syncarpous superior trilocular or unilocular ovary and fleshy berry or capsular fruits.
-In the family Asteraceae, the flowers are zygomorphic which has bilateral symmetry, ovary is bicarpellary, inferior unilocular and possesses cypsela fruits.
-The members of Brassicaceae family contain a dimerous or tetramerous actinomorphic or sometimes zygomorphic flower with bicarpellary syncarpous superior ovary.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note: The Solanaceae family is considered as economically important as it contributes several important sources of food, drug, medicinal and ornamental plants to the human race. This family serves several vegetables and spices that are widely used for cooking purposes in the food industry. The following is the list of some of the edible plants of great economic importance used as food such as:
-tomato (Solanum lycopersicum),
-potato (Solanum tuberosum),
-brinjal (Solanum melongena),
-bell pepper (Capsicum annuum),
-spices through chili pepper (Capsicum species).