Lady's finger (bhindi) belongs to

Options

A. Malvaceae
B. Cruciferae
C. Solanaceae
D. Liliaceae

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Identify the Plant:** The question asks about the classification of Lady's finger, also known as bhindi.

2. **Examine the Characteristics:** Lady's finger is characterized by:
- Mucilaginous plant parts, meaning they contain a sticky substance.
- Leaves that are arranged alternately and are simple (not compound).

3. **Understand the Unique Features:** Lady's finger has a unique feature called "apicalyx," which refers to an additional covering or part present on the upper surface of the petals.

4. **Determine the Family:** Based on the characteristics mentioned:
- The mucilaginous nature, alternate simple leaves, and presence of apicalyx are all traits associated with the Malvaceae family.

5. **Eliminate Other Families:** The other families mentioned (Cruciferaceae, Solanaceae, and Liliaceae) do not exhibit the same characteristics as Lady's finger. Therefore, they can be ruled out.

6. **Conclude the Classification:** Since all the defining characteristics of Lady's finger align with those of the Malvaceae family, we conclude that Lady's finger belongs to the Malvaceae family.

**Final Answer:** Lady's finger (bhindi) belongs to the Malvaceae family.

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