Among flowering plants, the three different genera Solanum, Petunia and Datura are all placed in which botanical family?

Introduction / Context:
Plant taxonomy groups related genera into families based on shared morphological and genetic characteristics. Knowing which genera belong to which family helps in understanding their similarities in floral structure, fruit type, and chemical properties. This question asks about three familiar genera Solanum, Petunia, and Datura and the plant family to which they all belong.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Solanum includes species such as potato and brinjal.
• Petunia includes ornamental garden plants with colourful flowers.
• Datura includes thorn apple and related plants with trumpet shaped flowers.
• Options include Solanaceae, Lamiaceae, and some clearly incorrect animal related names.
• We assume standard angiosperm classification found in botany textbooks.

Concept / Approach:
Solanum, Petunia, and Datura share several floral features such as funnel shaped flowers, five fused petals, and similar fruit types, which place them within the family Solanaceae, commonly known as the nightshade family. Solanaceae includes many important crops and ornamental plants and some poisonous species due to alkaloid content. Lamiaceae is the mint family, containing plants like Ocimum basilicum and Mentha. Names like Felis and Felidae refer to animals cats and not to plant families.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that potato, tomato, brinjal, chili, petunia, and datura are classic textbook examples of family Solanaceae. Step 2: Identify that Solanum tuberosum potato, Petunia hybrida, and Datura stramonium are species belonging to these three genera. Step 3: Recognise that these genera share similar floral formulas and inflorescence patterns, which taxonomists use to group them. Step 4: Note that Solanaceae is the plant family name formed from the type genus Solanum. Step 5: Examine the options and see that Solanaceae is the only realistic plant family among them. Step 6: Names Cancidae, Felis, and Felidae relate to animals or are not standard plant families, and Lamiaceae contains mints, not these genera. Step 7: Therefore, the correct family is Solanaceae.

Verification / Alternative check:
Botany textbooks list the family Solanaceae with detailed accounts of its floral structure and economic importance. Under this family, Solanum, Petunia, and Datura are all cited as representative genera. Family Lamiaceae has square stems, opposite leaves, and bilabiate flowers, and representative genera such as Ocimum and Mentha, clearly different from the examples in the question. Zoology texts describe Felis and Felidae as cat genus and cat family, respectively, which further confirms that those options are unrelated to plants.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Cancidae is not a standard plant family name in most curricula and appears incorrect. Felis is an animal genus for cats and has nothing to do with plant classification. Felidae is the animal family that includes cats and big cats. Lamiaceae is a plant family, but its member genera are different and mostly aromatic herbs, so Solanum, Petunia, and Datura do not belong there. Thus, only Solanaceae correctly groups the given genera.

Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes students are misled by the similar sounding names Felis and Felidae and forget that these refer to animals, not plants. Another pitfall is confusing Solanaceae and Lamiaceae because both are dicot families with many herbaceous members. Remember that Solanaceae includes crops like potato, tomato, and chili, while Lamiaceae includes aromatic herbs like mint and basil. Associating each genus with its familiar plant helps to anchor its correct family.

Final Answer:
The genera Solanum, Petunia, and Datura are all placed in the family Solanaceae.