Morphology of Flowering Plants (VSAQs)
Botany-1 | 5. Morphology Of Flowering Plants – VSAQs:
Welcome to VSAQs in Chapter 5: Morphology Of Flowering Plants. This page includes the most important FAQs from previous exams. Each question is answered in a concise format to help you understand quickly and aim for top marks in your final exams.
VSAQ-1: What type of specialized roots are found in epiphytic plants? What is their function?
Epiphytic plants, like orchids, have a special type of root called velamen roots. Think of these roots as sponges that soak up moisture from the air and rain. This is really important for plants that grow on other plants or surfaces because they don’t have soil to get water from. Besides absorbing moisture, velamen roots also help the plant cling to surfaces, keeping it stable as it grows. So, they help the plant get water and stay in place without needing to be in the ground.
VSAQ-2: How does the sucker of Chrysanthemum differ from the stolon of Jasmine?
Imagine you’re looking at two different ways plants spread. The sucker from a Chrysanthemum plant is like a little shoot that grows from an underground stem. It pops up through the soil and grows into a new plant. On the other hand, the stolon of a Jasmine plant is like a branch that grows along the surface of the soil or just above it. It spreads out and sends up new shoots along the way. Both the sucker and the stolon help plants make new plants, but they do it in different ways—one from below the ground and the other from above it.
VSAQ-3: Differentiate between Racemose and Cymose inflorescences.
Flowers can be arranged on plants in different ways. In racemose inflorescences, the flower arrangement keeps growing upward, with older flowers at the bottom and newer ones at the top. It’s like a ladder with flowers climbing up. In cymose inflorescences, the main stem stops growing after a while, and flowers develop from the top down, with the newest flowers at the bottom. It’s like a flower bouquet where the blooms start from the top and move downwards.
VSAQ-4: What is the morphology of the cup-like structure in Cyathium? In which family is it found?
In plants with a Cyathium inflorescence, there’s a cup-like structure made from fused bracts. These bracts form a sort of protective cup around the flowers. This special arrangement is found in the Euphorbiaceae family, which includes plants like Euphorbia. So, if you see this unique cup-like structure, you know it’s part of this plant family.
VSAQ-5: What type of inflorescence is found in fig trees? Why does the insect Blastophaga visit the inflorescence of fig trees?
Fig trees have a unique inflorescence called hypanthodium. It’s like a hidden space where all the fig’s flowers are tucked inside. The insect Blastophaga is attracted to this special structure because it’s looking for a place to lay its eggs. While the insect is inside, it also pollinates the flowers. This creates a win-win situation: the fig tree provides a safe home for the insect’s eggs, and the insect helps the fig tree by moving pollen around, which is crucial for making new figs.
VSAQ-6: What is the difference between actinomorphic and zygomorphic flowers?
To understand the difference between actinomorphic and zygomorphic flowers, let’s look at their shapes. Actinomorphic flowers have radial symmetry, meaning they can be divided into equal halves through any vertical plane. Imagine cutting a pizza into equal slices from any angle; that’s radial symmetry. Flowers like Datura and Hibiscus are great examples. On the other hand, zygomorphic flowers exhibit bilateral symmetry, which means they can only be split into two equal halves in one specific vertical plane. Picture slicing a cake so that only one particular line makes equal halves. Flowers such as Bean and Pea demonstrate this type of symmetry.
VSAQ-7: What is meant by the epipetalous condition? Give an example.
The epipetalous condition refers to a special arrangement where the stamens are attached directly to the petals of a flower. Think of it like having buttons sewn onto a shirt; the stamens are “attached” to the petals rather than being separate. This condition is seen in flowers like Datura and Brinjal, where the stamens are visibly connected to the petals.
VSAQ-8: What is meant by a pulvinus leaf base? In members of which angiospermic family do you find them?
A pulvinus leaf base is a specialized, swollen, and flexible region at the base of the leaf stalk, or petiole. This structure acts like a hinge, allowing the leaf to move or change its position in response to environmental changes. You can find this feature in the members of the Fabaceae family, such as beans and peas.
VSAQ-9: Define venation. How do dicots differ from monocots with respect to venation?
Venation refers to the pattern of veins and veinlets in a leaf. In dicots, like the Hibiscus, the pattern is reticulate venation, where veins form a network-like pattern across the leaf, much like a web or net. In contrast, monocots, such as banana plants, display parallel venation, where veins run parallel to each other from the base to the tip of the leaf, similar to the lines on a piece of lined paper.
VSAQ-10: Define placentation. What type of placentation is found in Dianthus?
Placentation is the arrangement of ovules within the ovary of a flower. In Dianthus, the type of placentation is free central. In this arrangement, ovules are attached to a central column or pillar inside the ovary, without any partitions separating them, much like beads strung on a central thread.
VSAQ-11: What is meant by a parthenocarpic fruit? How is it useful?
A parthenocarpic fruit is one that develops without the fertilization of the ovary, meaning it forms without the need for pollination and seed formation. It’s like a fruit growing even if it hasn’t been “fertilized” by pollen. This type of fruit is particularly useful because it allows for the production of seedless fruits. For instance, seedless bananas are produced this way, making them more convenient for eating and processing into products like juice.
VSAQ-12: Why are certain fruits called false fruits? Name two examples of plants having false fruits.
Certain fruits are termed false fruits because they do not develop from the ovary of the flower. Instead, they form from other floral parts such as the receptacle or calyx. For example, the apple is considered a false fruit because the edible, fleshy part we eat originates from the receptacle rather than the ovary. Similarly, the cashew provides another example. Here, the true fruit is the cashew nut, but the enlarged, fleshy part known as the cashew apple develops from the pedicel and receptacle, not the ovary.
VSAQ-13: Define mericarp. In which plant can you find it?
A mericarp is a segment of a schizocarpic fruit that breaks apart into separate units, each containing a single seed. This characteristic is typical of fruits where the carpels split into individual units when mature. You can find mericarp in the Castor plant (Ricinus communis). The Castor fruit is a schizocarp that splits into three separate mericarps, each holding a single seed.
VSAQ-14: What are aggregate fruits? Give two examples.
Aggregate fruits are formed from a single flower with multiple separate carpels. Each carpel develops into a small fruitlet, which clusters together to create the aggregate fruit. For example, the custard apple is an aggregate fruit, with numerous fruitlets each originating from individual carpels of the flower. Another example is the lotus, which produces an aggregate fruit consisting of many small seed pods (mericarps), each arising from a separate carpel and arranged in a circular pattern.
VSAQ-15: Name a plant that has a single fruit developing from the entire inflorescence. What is such a fruit called?
The pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a plant where a single fruit develops from the entire inflorescence. This type of fruit is known as a “multiple” or “collective” fruit. The pineapple results from the fusion of many individual flowers (fruitlets) within a single inflorescence. Each scale-like structure on the pineapple’s surface represents a single flower, all contributing to the composite fruit.