Plant Families Comparison
| Family | Distribution | Vegetative Characters | Floral Characters | Economic Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papilionoideae (Leguminosae) | All over the world |
Trees, shrubs, herbs; root with root nodules Stem: erect or climber Leaves: alternate, pinnately compound or simple; leaf base, pulvinate; stipulate; venation reticulate. |
Inflorescence: racemose Flower: bisexual, zygomorphic Calyx: sepals five, gamosepalous; valvate/imbricate aestivation Corolla: petals five, polypetalous, papilionaceous, consisting of a posterior standard, two lateral wings, two anterior ones forming a keel (enclosing stamens and pistil), vexillary aestivation Androecium: ten, diadelphous, anther dithecous Gynoecium: ovary superior, monocarpellary, unilocular with many ovules, style single Fruit: legume; seed: one to many, non-endospermic Floral Formula: % K(5) C1+2+(2) A(9)+1 G1 |
Many plants belonging to the family are sources of pulses (gram, arhar, sem, moong, soyabean; edible oil (soyabean, groundnut); dye (Indigofera); fibres (sunhemp); fodder (Sesbania, Trifolium), ornamentals (lupin, sweet pea); medicine (muliathi). |
| Malvaceae | Worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical regions |
Trees, shrubs, or herbs Leaves usually alternate, simple, often palmately veined Stipules present, often large and conspicuous |
Flowers usually bisexual, actinomorphic Sepals 5, free or fused Petals 5, free or fused Stamens numerous, free or united Carpels usually multiple, fused Fruit a capsule or schizocarp |
Economically important for their fruits (cotton, okra), ornamentals, and medicinal plants. |
| Poaceae | Worldwide |
Mostly herbs, rarely shrubs Nodes solid, often swollen Internodes usually hollow Leaves alternate, distichous, sheathing at the base |
Flowers usually bisexual, actinomorphic Spikelets with 2 glumes Stamens usually 3, anthers versatile Ovary superior, 2-3 stigmas Fruit a caryopsis (grain) |
Major sources of food (wheat, rice, maize), fodder, construction materials, and ornamentals. |
| Asteraceae | Worldwide, especially in temperate regions |
Herbs, shrubs, or trees Leaves usually alternate, simple, often toothed or lobed Stipules absent |
Flowers usually bisexual, actinomorphic, arranged in heads Calyx modified into a pappus of bristles or scales Corolla usually tubular, sometimes ligulate or bilabiate Stamens 5, united to form a tube around the style Ovary inferior, 1 carpel, ovule solitary, style with 2 branches |
Economically important as food (lettuce, artichokes), spices (chamomile), medicinal plants, and ornamentals. |
| Family | Vegetative Characters | Floral Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Fabaceae |
Stem: Erect or climber Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound or simple; leaf base, pulvinate; stipulate; venation reticulate. |
Inflorescence: Racemose Flower: Bisexual, zygomorphic Calyx: Sepals five, gamosepalous; valvate/imbricate aestivation Corolla: Petals five, polypetalous, papilionaceous, consisting of a posterior standard, two lateral wings, two anterior ones forming a keel (enclosing stamens and pistil), vexillary aestivation Androecium: Ten, diadelphous, anther dithecous Gynoecium: Ovary superior, monocarpellary, unilocular with many ovules, style single Fruit: Legume Seed: One to many, non-endospermic Floral Formula: % K(5) C1+2+(2) A(9)+1 G1 Economic importance: Many plants belonging to the family are sources of pulses (gram, arhar, sem, moong, soyabean; edible oil (soyabean, groundnut); dye (Indigofera); fibres (sunhemp); fodder (Sesbania, Trifolium), ornamentals (lupin, sweet pea); medicine (muliathi). |
| Malvaceae |
Stem: Herb, shrub, or tree Leaves: Alternate, simple, usually palmately veined; stipules present and often large and conspicuous |
Inflorescence: Various Flower: Usually bisexual and actinomorphic, often showy Calyx: Sepals 5, often fused at the base, valvate or imbricate Corolla: Petals usually 5, often fused into a tube Androecium: Numerous stamens, fused into a tube Gynoecium: Carpels 5, fused Fruit: A capsule, schizocarp, or berry Seed: Usually with endosperm Floral Formula: % P5+5 A∞ G(4-∞) Economic importance: Many plants are cultivated for their fiber, such as cotton; some species are ornamental, and others are used in traditional medicine. |
| Poaceae |
Stem: Hollow, jointed, and usually round in cross-section Leaves: Alternate, with a sheath that surrounds the stem; simple and linear with parallel veins |
Inflorescence: Spikelets arranged in various ways, such as spikes, racemes, or panicles Flower: Small, usually bisexual and wind-pollinated Calyx: Absent Corolla: Absent Androecium: Usually 3 stamens Gynoecium: Ovary superior, 2-3 carpels Fruit: Caryopsis Seed: Single, often with endosperm Floral Formula: % P0 A3+3 G(2-3) Economic importance: Major food crops such as wheat, rice, maize, and sugarcane; used for fodder, construction materials, and erosion control. |
| Asteraceae |
Stem: Herbaceous, sometimes woody at the base Leaves: Alternate or opposite, simple or compound; often with glandular hairs |
Inflorescence: Capitulum Flower: Usually bisexual, actinomorphic or zygomorphic Calyx: Reduced to a pappus or absent Corolla: 5 fused petals, forming a tube (ligulate or tubular) Androecium: Usually 5 stamens, fused Gynoecium: Ovary inferior,
Fruit: Achene or cypsela
Seed: Often with a pappus for wind dispersal Floral Formula: % (5) K (5) C (5) A (5) G (2) Economic importance: Many plants are cultivated for ornamental purposes, some are used in traditional medicine, and others are sources of food and beverages such as lettuce, chicory, and chamomile. |
| Feature | Fabaceae | Malvaceae | Poaceae (Grasses) | Asteraceae (Compositae) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earlier Name | Papilionoideae (subfamily of Leguminosae) | N/A | N/A | Compositae |
| Distribution | Worldwide | Mostly tropical and subtropical | Worldwide | Worldwide |
| Vegetative Characters | Trees, shrubs, herbs; root with root nodules for nitrogen fixation; presence of mucilage | Herbs, shrubs, or trees; alternate, simple, palmately lobed or divided leaves; stipulate; palmate venation | Herbs | Herbs, shrubs, or trees; alternate, simple leaves; entire, lobed, or divided; no leaf sheath |
| Root | With root nodules for nitrogen fixation | Taproot or fibrous | Fibrous | Variable (taproot, fibrous, rhizomes) |
| Stem | Erect or climber | Erect or herbaceous | Herbaceous | Variable (erect, herbaceous) |
| Leaves | Alternate, pinnately compound or simple; pulvinate leaf base; stipulate; reticulate venation | Alternate, simple, palmately lobed or divided; stipulate; palmate venation | Alternate, simple, linear; parallel venation; leaf sheath present | Alternate, simple; entire, lobed, or divided; no leaf sheath |
| Floral Characters | ||||
| Inflorescence | Racemose | Cymose or solitary | Spikelet | Capitulum (composite flower head) |
| Flower | Bisexual, zygomorphic | Bisexual, actinomorphic (radially symmetrical) | Bisexual or unisexual, inconspicuous | Typically bisexual, radiate (with ray florets) or disc-shaped |
| Epicalyx | Absent | May be present (additional whorl of bracts below the calyx) | Absent | Absent |
| Bract | May be present, especially at the base of the inflorescence or individual flowers | May be present, especially at the base of the flower stalk or epicalyx | May be present, often forming the outer ring of a spikelet | Present, forming the outer ring of the capitulum (often mistaken for petals) |
| Calyx | 5 sepals, gamosepalous | 5 sepals, gamosepalous | (Glume) or absent | Variable (sepals reduced or absent) |
| Corolla | 5 petals, papilionaceous (standard, wings, keel) | 5 petals, free or slightly fused at base | Absent or minute | Variable (ray florets with ligulate corolla, disc florets with tubular corolla) |
| Androecium | 10 stamens, diadelphous (2 bundles) | Many stamens, monadelphous (fused into a column) | 3 stamens | 5 stamens, syngenesious (anthers fused) |
| Gynoecium | Superior ovary, monocarpellary, unilocular with many ovules | Superior ovary, syncarpellary, 5-lobed with many ovules per locule | Superior ovary, monocarpellary, unilocular with 1 ovule | Inferior ovary, syncarpellary, 1- or 2-locule with 1 ovule per locule |
| Fruit | Legume | Capsule or schizocarp | Caryopsis (fused-pericarp and seed coat) | Achene (dry, single-seeded fruit with pappus) |
| Economic Importance | Pulses (beans, peas), edible oil (soybean), fibers, fodder, ornamentals, medicine | Ornamental plants (hibiscus), cotton fibers | Cereals (grains), forage grasses | Ornamental flowers (sunflowers, daisies), vegetables (lettuce, artichoke) |