Question

The family of Arjuna bark is

• A. Combretaceae
• B. Gnetaceae
• C. Rutacea
• D. Solanacea

Hint:

The Arjuna tree, known for its medicinal uses, belongs to the Combretaceae family.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding Arjuna bark.
The Arjuna tree (*Terminalia arjuna*) belongs to the family Combretaceae. This tree is well known for its medicinal properties, particularly for heart health.
Step 2: Analyzing the options.
(A) Combretaceae: Correct — Arjuna belongs to the Combretaceae family.
(B) Gnetaceae: This is incorrect, as Gnetaceae is a separate plant family.
(C) Rutacea: Rutaceae is the family of citrus fruits, not Arjuna.
(D) Solanacea: Solanaceae is the nightshade family, which is unrelated to Arjuna.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (A) Combretaceae as Arjuna belongs to this family.

Answer 2

We can identify the correct family by recalling other well-known members of each plant family listed and checking which one Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) actually belongs with.

1. Combretaceae: This family includes several Terminalia species (T. arjuna, T. chebula, T. bellerica), all trees valued in Ayurvedic medicine, matching Arjuna's own genus exactly.
2. Gnetaceae: This is a small gymnosperm family (Gnetum species), taxonomically and morphologically far removed from Terminalia, an angiosperm tree.
3. Rutaceae: This is the citrus family (oranges, lemons), known for aromatic oil glands in the leaves, an entirely different family from Terminalia.
4. Solanaceae: This is the nightshade family (potato, tomato, datura), mostly herbs and shrubs, structurally very different from a large timber tree like Arjuna.

Since Arjuna belongs to the genus Terminalia, and Terminalia is classified under Combretaceae alongside its other medicinal relatives, this is the family being asked for.

Therefore, the correct answer is Combretaceae.