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In this article we will discuss about the classification of Asteridae:- 1. Boraginaceae 2. Scrophulariaceae 3. Bignoniaceae.
Family # 1. Boraginaceae:
Salient Features of Boraginaceae:
Boraginaceae is the Borage or ‘Forget me not’ family, includes a variety of shrubs, trees and herbs. It includes 146 genera and 2000 species. The numbers are distributed all over the world. Most though not all members of this family have leaves. The coarse character of the hairs is due to silicon dioxide and calcium carbonate.
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In some species, Anthocyanins cause the flowers to change their colour from red to blue when aging. It is the signal to pollinators that these old flowers are lacking pollen and nectar. Important plants are Myosotis, Cordia, Heliotropium, Cyanoglossum etc.
Vegetative Characters of Boraginaceae:
Trees, (Ehertia), shrubs (Cordia sp) or herbs (Heliotropium). A few are lianas, without essential oils. Plants are hispid or scabrid, annual or perennial. Helophytic, mesophytic or xerophytic.
Leaves: Simple, alternate, exstipulate, rarely opposite (Trichodesma), petiolate or sessile (Heliotropium). In some plants a basal aggregation of leaves; Lamina entire Crenate or dentate usually narrow, linear to lanceolate, covered by rough hairs.
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Floral Characters of Boraginaceae:
Inflorescene:
Solitary (Heliotropium), Cyme Scorpioid or helicoids cyme or cincinnous type, In Cordia and Ehertia corymb or panicle.
Flower:
Bracteate or ebracteate, bracteolate, actinomorphic or zygomorphic (Echium), bisexual, Pentamenous, hypogynous.
Calyx:
Usually 5 or 5-8, in one whorl polysepalous (Lithospermum) or gamosepalous (basally). Very small, basally appendaged (Myosurus) or spurred, peristent, not persistent in Heliotropium, imbricate or valvate (rarely) or quincuncial (Heliotropium).
Corolla:
5 petals, gamopetalous, appendiculate often with a corona of scale from the throat pretecting the nectar, non-appendiculate, corolla lobes shorter than tube or longer than tube, imbricate or contorted, rotate or campanulate to hypocrateriform (Heliotropium) or tubular, unequal but not bilabiate in Echium bilabiate, green, white, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue or violet.
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Androecium:
5 stamens, adnate to corolla, polyandrous, all fertile, oppositei-sepalous, or antisepalous, sessile anthers, filaments appendiculate, anthers, filament 5 appendiculate, anther, dithecous dorsifixed or basifixed, introrse. Nectariferous disc, sometimes present at the base of filaments.
Gynoecium:
Bicarpellary, 4-5 carpels in Trignotis, syncarpous, bi or tetra-loculae, it may be 8-10 locular due to false septa (Trignotis sp.) style 1, placentation axile, sometimes appears basal, style usually gynobasic, stigma one.
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Fruit:
Generally dry schizocarpic, 4 or 8-10 nutlets, 1-4 seeded drupe (Cordia).
Seed:
Endospermic or non-endospermic. Pollination is entomophilous.
Economic Importance of Boraginaceae:
Ornamentals:
1. Borago (Borage),
2. Cordia (Geiger tree),
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3. Cyanoglossum (Hound’s tongue),
4. Mertensia (Oyster plant),
5. Myosotis (Forget-me-not),
6. Heliotropium (Heliotrope),
7. Pulmonaria (Lungwort),
8. Echium plantaginuem (Pattersons curse),
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9. Echium vulgare (Viper’s Bugloss), and
10. Omphalodes (Creeping forget me-not).
Medicinal:
1. Cordia myxa: Bark and fruit in cough.
2. Heliotropium indicum : Leaf decoction in fever, roots in cough.
3. Lithospermum officinale: Seeds are used in urinary bladder disease.
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4. Onosma bracteatum: Leaves or flowers as diuretic.
5. Ehertia macrophylla: Leaves in cough and stomach trouble.
Edible:
1. Cordia dichotoma (Lasora): Unripe fruits as vegetable and pickle.
2. Cordia gharaf (Gondhi): Ripe fruits edible.
Other uses:
1. Onosma hispida (Ratanjot): A red dye obtained from roots.
2. Ehertia: Wood used for making boxes and handles etc.
Systematics:
Boraginaceae according to APG II, among the euasterid I group including the order Gentianales, Lamiales and Solanales. According to Cronquist system it is included in Lamiales, it has more similarity to other families in this order than families in other order.
The Boraginaceae are paraphyletic with respect to Hydrophyllaceae and the latter in included in the former in APG II system. In some recent classifications the Boraginaceae are broken up into several families. Boraginaceae sensu stricto, Cordiaceae, Ehertiaceae, Heliotropiaceae, Hydrophyllaceae and Lennoaceae.
Classification:
Kingdom: Plantae
Unranked: Angiosperms
Unranked: Eudicots
Order: Unplaced
Family: Boraginaceae.
Cronquist System:
Subclass: Asteridae.
Order: Lamiales
Family: Boraginaceae.
APG III System:
Unranked: Core angiosperm
Unranked: Core eudicot
Superorder: Asteranae (Lamiid).
Order: Unassigned.
Subfamilies:
1. Boraginoideae,
2. Cordioideae,
3. Ehertiodeae,
4. Keliotropioideae,
5. Hydrophylloideae, and
6. Lennooideae.
Family # 2. Scrophulariaceae:
Salient Features of Scrophulariaceae:
Family is of annual or perennial herbs with zygomorphic rarely actinomorphic flowers.
The members are cosmopolitan in distribution. Mostly in temperate area and tropical mountains. Name of the family was given on the basis of genera Scrophularia.
Vegetative Characters of Scrophulariaceae:
Mostly herbs, shrubs (Veronica), Rarely tree (Poulownia), Lianas (Maurandia), some are parasites (Hyobanche, Harveya) or semi-parasitic (Euphrasia and Pedicularis). Succulent (Bacopa, Lindernia).
Leaf:
Leaves of aquatic plants are submerged or emergent or floating. Exstipulate, Heterophyllous (Hebe, Hydrotriche) or simple, alternate, opposite or rarely whorled; Herbaceous or leathery or rarely fleshy or memberanous, Petiolate to sessile, occasionally perfoliate, leafbase epulvinate, sheathing or non- sheathing, lamina dissected or entire, pinnatifid or palmatifid, much divided in submerged plant Limnophila.
Floral Characters of Scrophulariaceae:
Inflorescence:
Flowers solitary or cymose raceme or spike or head or panicles terminal or axillary.
Flower:
Bracteate or ebracteate, bracteolate or ebracteolate, minute to small medium or large, generally actinomorphic or zygomorphic (Verbascum, Bacopa, Elacholoma), resupinate (Lindernia hypandra), hypogynous and pentamerous.
Calyx:
5, generally four sepals posterior member is missing or the anterior pair united; 2 in Dischisma gamosepalous usually or polysepalous (Bacopa, Dischisma), toothed, or entire (Centranthera), Unequal but not bilabiate, persistent, imbricate or valvate.
Corolla:
Generally 4 petals (posterior pair united), or 5, or rarely 3 as in Glossostigma, apendiculate (flaps covering the anther in Lindernia), or non- appendiculate, gamopetalous, imbricate or valvate more or less bilabiate, unequally bilabiate in Dichisma where the upper lip is four lobed and the lower lip is suppressed, regular as in Verbascum, spurred in Linaria, Sacced in Antirhinum persistent or deciduous.
Androecium:
4 Stamens (posterior stamen absent, or sometimes 2 only. Epipetalous filaments unequal e.g., 5 stamen in Verbescum; 4 in Mazus, 2 in Veronica, In Antirrihum, Scrophularia etc. the posterior stamen is sterile or staminode.
Sometimes didynamous, oppositesepalous, filaments appendiculate sometimes spurred as in Lindernia or non-appendiculate, Epipetelous, Anthers cohesing or separate dithecous or monothecous may dehisce by longitudinal slits or poral (Euphrasia, Bartsia).
Gynoecium:
Bicarpellary syncarpous, superior bilocular, style one, stigma one or bilobed or papillate, placentation axile, ovule anatropus; nectar secreting disc present below ovary, usually endosperm haustoria present.
Fruit:
Usually fleshy, rarely schizocarpic (Lagotis), capsule or berry.
Seed:
Endospermic oily endosperm, minute, winged or wingless, cotytendons 2, embryo straight or curved.
Economic Importance of Scrophulariaceae:
Medicinal:
1. Leptandra: Black root or Culver’s Root.
2. Rehmannia: Chinese foxglove, used in traditional Chinese medicine
3. Digitalis purpurea: Foxglove: used in congested heart problems.
4. Linaria moroccana: Used in diabetes.
5. Scoparia dulcis: Used in fever coughs and bronchitis.
6. Herpestis cuneifolia: Used in Rheumatisn
7. Verhasum sinensis: Used in dysentery
8. Bacopa monnieri: Used in epilepsy and insanity.
9. Celsia coromandeliana: Juice in dysentry.
10. Verbescum thespus: Jackal’s tobacco used in asthma and pulmonary- disease.
11. Picrorhiza kurroa: Used as laxative.
Ornamental:
1. Scrophularia (Figwort)
2. Linaria vulgaris (Toadflax)
3. Verbescum thespus (Mulleius or Jackal’s tobacco)
4. Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove)
5. Angelonia angustifolia
6. Antirrhinum majus (Snapdbragon)
7. Mimulus luteus (Monkey flower)
8. Russelia juncea (Coral blow)
9. Paulownia tomentosa (Avenue tree)
10. Torenia asiatica
11. Veronica bungifolia (Speedwell)
12. Collinsia grandiflora
13. Castilleja (Indian paintbrush)
14. Chelone glabra (Turtle head)
15. Digitalis lanates (Grecian foxglove).
16. Russelia coccinea (Firecracker plant)
17. Russelia equistiformis (Fountain plants)
Other uses:
1. Digitalis: Poisonous plant.
2. Halleria: Fruits edible (Umbinza)
3. Limnophila: Plant of Aquaria.
Systematics and Classification:
Kingdom: Plantae
Unranked: Angiosperm
Unranked: Eudicots
Order: Lamiales.
Family: Scrophulariaceae.
1. Tribe: Aptosimeae
2. Tribe: Buddlejeae
3. Tribe: Heminerideae
4. Tribe: Lancophylleae.
5. Tribe: Limosellae
6. Tribe: Myoporeae
7. Tribe: Scrophularieae
8. Tribe: Tedieae.
Not placed in any tribe are:
Brachystigma , Daristoma, Hemianthus, Leucosalpa and Phygellius
According to Cronquist
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Scrophulariales
Family: Scrophulariaceae.
APG III System:
Unranked: Angiosperm
Unranked: Core dicot
Super order: Asteranae (Lamiid)
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Family # 3. Bignoniaceae:
Salient Features of Bignoniaceae:
Bignoniaceae or Trumpet creeper family comprises of 650-750 species and 116-120 genera. Generally, herbaceous shrubs or trees rarely lianas (Podranea and Macfadyene).
As shrubs they are twine climbers tendril climbers, rarely root climbers. The family is commonly known for ornamental plants due to their large and often colourful flowers. Important are Crescentia cujete (Calabash tree), Compsis, Catalpa , Jacranda, Kigelia, Spathodea, Bignonia and Tabebuia.
The family is cosmopolitan in distribution in both old world and new world. Catalpa is the only genus present in both old and new world. Members are distributed in Tropics and subtropics with their center in South America.
A number of temperate species are found mainly in North America and East Asia. 13 Species in 8 genera are found in Southern Africa, 12 genera and 35 species are found in China among which 21 are endemic. 10 genera or 17 species are present in Australia. However, in India the family is represented by 15 genera and 40 species which mostly occur is Western and Southern India, a few species are found in Himalayas as well.
Vegetative Characters of Bignoniaceae:
Generally trees, shrubs, lianas or rarely herbs, Erect or climbing, stem twiners or tendril climbers (modified terminal leaflets), Twines Turning anticlockwise. (Tecoma).
Leaves:
Opposite generally, or whorled (Kigelia), or alternate (rarely), petiolate, exstipulate, leaves generally compound- pinnate or palmate or bipinnate, rarely simple.
Floral Characters of Bignoniaceae:
Inflorescence:
Flowers solitary or dichasial cyme. Terminal or axillary.
Flower:
Bracteate, Bracteolate, Complete, Bisexual, Zygomorphic, Pentamerous, Hypogynous.
Calyx:
5 Sepals, gamosepalous, companulate, entire or toothed, unequal but not bilabiate.
Corolla:
5 petals, gamopetalous, companulate or funnel shaped, bilabiate, (Two lobes in upper lip and three in lower 2/3). Imbricate, valvate (Pyrostegia).
Androecium:
4 epipetalous stamen didynamous, alternipetalous fifth stamen is staminode or absent. It is posterior in position. In some plants only 2 stamens (Catalpa) present. Anther dithecous, introrse, dehisces longitudinally.
Gynoecium:
Bicarpellary, syncarpous, superior, bilocular or tetralocular (false septa), axile placentation, Unilocular in Kigelia with parietal placentation, style one simple and terminal, stigma bilipped. Nectar secreting disc is present below the ovary.
Economic Importance of Bignoniaceae:
Ornamental:
1. Kigelia africana: Sausage tree: flowers large showy, leathery corolla, Sausage like indehiscent fruits, not edible.
2. Pyrostegia venusta syn. Bignonia venusta: Flame vine
3. Spathodea companulata: African tulip tree.
4. Tabebuia donnell -smithii: Gold tree.
5. Tabebuia heterophylla: Pink tecoma.
6. Tabebuia rosea: Rosy trumpet tree
7. Tecoma stans: Yellow elder.
8. Tecomanthe dendrophila
9. Tecomeria copensis: Cape honey suckle
10. Tabebuia berteroi: Hispaniolan rosey trumpet tree.
11. Tabebuia auree: Carabbean trumpet tree
12. Macfadyena unguis- cati: Cat’s claw vine
13. Pandorea jasminoides: Bower vine.
14. Podranea ricasoliana: Pink trumpet vine.
15. Campsis grandiflora
Avenue trees:
1. Jacranda mimosaefolia
2. Kigelia pinnata
3. Catalpa bignoniodes
4. Millingtoner hortensias
5. Haplophragma adenophyllum
6. Spathodea falcata
7. Tabebuia spectabilis
Timber yielding:
1. Catalpa bignonioides
2. Spathodea falcatea
3. Dolichandrone sp.
4. Oroxylum sp.
5. Stereospermun sp.
6. Tecoma sp.
7. Tabebuia sp.
8. Millingtonia sp.
Other uses:
1. Crescentia cujete (Calabash tree) is grown for fruits (Gouard shaped) which are hollowed and dried then used for holding liquid.
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2. Millingtonia hertensis (Akash neem or Indian cork tree) inferior quality cork is obtained from bark.
Systematics & Classification:
Bentham and Hooker placed the family in Gamopetalae, Bicarpellatae and personales, Engler and Prantal placed it under dicotylcdoneae, Sympetalae and order Tubiflorae, Hutchinson placed it under angiospermae, Dicotyledonae, Lingnosae and Bignoniales, Cronquist, Dahlgren and APG II system placed it as.
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Scrophulariales
The family was previously placed under the order scrophulariales. Genera formally placed under this family are Exarata, Gibsowothamnus, Schlegelia and synapsis all of which now form family Schlegeliaceae
According to APG III System:
Kingdom: Plantae,
Unranked: Angiosperms,
Unranked: Eudicots,
Unranked: Asterids,
Order: Lamiales, and
Family: Bignoniaceae.
Bignoniaceae is divided into tribes:
1. Tribe: Bignoneae
2. Tribe: Coleeae
3. Tribe: Crescentieae
4. Tribe: Eccremocarpeae
5. Tribe: Oroxyleae
6. Tribe: Tecomeae
7. Tribe: Tourottieae
