Q.47 Which one of the following plant families does apple (Malus domestica) belong to?
(A) Rosaceae
(B) Rutaceae
(C) Rubiaceae
(D) Ranunculaceae
Apple (Malus domestica) belongs to the Rosaceae family. This deciduous tree produces edible pomes and is widely cultivated for its fruit. The correct answer is (A) Rosaceae.
Option Analysis
Rosaceae includes apples, roses, strawberries, and cherries, featuring hypanthium and diverse fruits like pomes. Rutaceae contains citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons, with aromatic oils and dotted leaves. Rubiaceae features coffee, gardenia, and ixora, often with opposite leaves and inferior ovaries. Ranunculaceae encompasses buttercups, delphiniums, and columbines, typically with acrid sap and numerous stamens.
Apple (Malus domestica), a globally cultivated fruit tree, belongs to the Rosaceae plant family, known for economically vital crops like apples and roses. This apple Malus domestica plant family classification is key for CSIR NET Life Sciences aspirants studying angiosperm families and their diagnostic features.
Rosaceae Family Characteristics
Rosaceae, the rose family, spans over 100 genera and 3,000 species worldwide, mostly in temperate regions. Plants show actinomorphic flowers with 5 sepals/petals, numerous stamens, and fruits like pomes (apples), drupes (cherries), or aggregates (strawberries). Malus domestica fits perfectly with its pome fruit from a hypanthium and 5-petaled pink-white flowers.
Why Not Other Options?
Rutaceae (citrus family) features glands with oils, like oranges (Citrus) and lemons, absent in apples. Rubiaceae (coffee family) has interpetiolar stipules and axial placentation, seen in Coffea and Gardenia. Ranunculaceae (buttercup family) produces herbs with acrid latex and spirally inserted stamens, like Ranunculus and Delphinium. None match apple’s woody habit or pome.
| Family | Key Genera/Examples | Fruit Type | Distinct Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosaceae | Malus (apple), Rosa, Prunus | Pome, drupe | Hypanthium, 5 petals |
| Rutaceae | Citrus (orange), Ruta | Hesperidium | Oil glands, dotted leaves |
| Rubiaceae | Coffea, Gardenia | Capsule, drupe | Opposite leaves, stipules |
| Ranunculaceae | Ranunculus, Delphinium | Achene, follicle | Acrid sap, numerous stamens |
CSIR NET Relevance
For competitive exams like CSIR NET, memorize Rosaceae’s economic role (apples produce 97 million tonnes yearly) and contrasts with Rutaceae’s tropic affinity or Ranunculaceae’s toxicity. Malus domestica originated in Central Asia, domesticated via grafting.
