Class 11th: Morphology of Flowering Plants Biology

Exercises
1. What is meant by modification of root? What type of modification of root is found
in the
(a) Banyan tree
(b) Turnip
(c) Mangrove trees
Answer
The primary function of the root is absorption of water and minerals and giving
mechanical support to the plant. Sometimes roots get modified to carry out other
functions like storage of food or additional mechanical support.
(a) Banyan Tree: In banyan trees long roots develop from branches and they go
deep down to reach the ground. They are for providing additional mechanical
support to the huge banyan tree. This modification is called as prop root.
(b) Turnip: In turnip the root is modified to store extra food.
(c) Mangrove trees: Mangrove trees are found in marshy area. The roots get
modified into pneumatic structures providing extra passage to allow additional
oxygen to the plant.
2. Justify the following statements on the basis of external features
(i) Underground parts of a plant are not always roots
(ii) Flower is a modified shoot
Answer
(i) In some plants stems remain underground to carry out some additional functions,
like food storage and vegetative reproduction. For example, potatoes are modified
form of underground stems.
(ii) When the stem takes on the role of sexual reproduction it is modified into a

flower. That is why flower id often called a modified shoot.

3. How is pinnately compound leaf different from palmately compound leaf?
Answer
In pinnately compound leaf a number of leaflets are attached on a common axis.
Example, neem leaves while in palmately compound leaf number of leaflets are
attached at the common point on the leaf stalk. Example, cotton leaves.
4. Explain with suitable examples the different types of phyllotaxy?
Answer
Phyllotaxy is the pattern of arrangement of leaves on the stem or branch. It is of
three types: alternate, opposite and whorled.
Alternate Arrangement of Leaves: In alternate type of phyllotaxy, a single leaf
arises at each node in alternate manner, as in china rose, mustard and sun flower
plants.
Opposite Arrangement of Leaves: In opposite type, a pair of leaves arise at each
node and lie opposite to each other as in Calotropis and guava plants.
Whorled Arrangement of Leaves: If more than two leaves arise at a node and form
a whorl, it is called whorled, as in Alstonia.
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5. Define the following terms:
(a) Aestivation
(b) Placentation
(c) Actinomorphic
(d) Zygomorphic
(e) Superior ovary
(f) Perigynous flower

(g) Epipetalous Stamen

Answer
(a) The mode of arrangement of sepals or petals in floral bud with respect to the
other members of the same whorl is known as aestivation. The main types of
aestivation are valvate, twisted, imbricate and vexillary.
(b) The arrangement of ovules within the ovary is known as placentation. The
placentation are of different types namely, marginal, axile, parietal, basal, central and
free central.
(c) When a flower can be divided into two equal radial halves in any radial plane
passing through the centre, it is said to be actinomorphic, Example: mustard and
chilli.
(d) When a flower can be divided into two similar halves only in one particular
vertical plane, it is zygomorphic. Example: pea, gulmohur, bean and Cassia.
(e) Superior ovary flowers are those flowers in which the gynoecium is present at the
highest position, while other floral parts are arranged below it. A flower with this
arrangement is described as hypogynous. Example: brinjal and mustard.
(f) In perigynous flowers, the gynoecium is present in the centre and the rest of the
floral parts are arranged at the rim of the thalamus at the same level. Example: plum
and rose.
(g) When stamens are attached to the petals, they are epipetalous as in brinjal.
6. Differentiate between
(a) Racemose and cymose inflorescence
(b) Fibrous roots and adventitious roots
(c) Apocarpous and syncarpous ovary
Answer
(a)

Racemose inflorescence

Cymose inflorescence

Younger flowers are present at the

tip while older flowers are arranged at
the base of this inflorescence. Such an
arrangement is called acropetal
succession.

Younger flowers are present at the

base of the inflorescence, while older
flowers are present at the top. Such an
arrangement is called basipetal
succession.

The main axis in racemose

inflorescence continues to grow and
produce flowers laterally.

The main axis in cymose

inflorescence has limited growth, which
later terminates into a flower.

(b)
Fibrous root

Adventitious root

In monocots, the primary root which

develops from the radicle of the seed is shortlived and is replaced by a large number of
roots arising from the base of the stem.

These roots arise from any part

of the plant other than the radicle
of seeds.

It is found in wheat and other cereals.

It is found in
banyan, Monstera,and other
plants.

(c)
Apocarpous ovary

Syncarpous ovary

The flowers with apocarpus ovary

have more than one carpel. These
carpels are free.

The flowers with syncarpous ovary

have more than one carpel. However,
these carpels are fused.

It is found in lotus and rose

flowers.

It is found in the flowers of tomato and

mustard.

7. Draw the labelled diagram of the following:

(i) Gram seed

(ii) V.S. of maize seed
Answer
(a)

(b)

8. Describe modifications of stem with suitable examples.

Answer
The modifications of Stem with suitable examples are:
Food Storage: Stems are modified to perform different functions.
Underground stems of potato, ginger, turmeric, zaminkand, Colocasia are modified
to store food in them. They also act as organs of perennation to tide over conditions
unfavourable for growth.

Tendrils: Stem tendrils which develop from axillary buds, are slender and
spirally coiled and help plants to climb such as in gourds (cucumber, pumpkins,
watermelon) and grapevines.
Thorns: Axillary buds of stems may also get modified into woody, straight
and pointed thorns. Thorns are found in many plants such as Citrus, Bougainvillea.
They protect plants from browsing animals. Some plants of arid regions modify their
stems into flattened (Opuntia), or fleshycylindrical (Euphorbia) structures. They
contain chlorophyll and carry out photosynthesis.
Vegetative Reproduction: Underground stems of some plants such as grass and
strawberry, etc., spread to new niches and when older parts die new plants are
formed. In plants like mint and jasmine a slender lateral branch arises from the base
of the main axis and after growing aerially for some time arch downwards to touch
the ground. A lateral branch with short internodes and each node bearing a rosette
of leaves and a tuft of roots is found in aquatic plants like Pistia and Eichhornia. In
banana, pineapple and Chrysanthemum, the lateral branches originate from the
basal and underground portion of the main stem, grow horizontally beneath the soil
and then come out obliquely upward giving rise to leafy shoots.
9. Take one flower each of families Fabaceae and Solanaceae and write its semitechnical description. Also draw their floral diagrams after studying them.
Answer
Family Fabaceae (Pea)
Fabaceae (earlier called Papilionaceae) is a sub-family of the Leguminoseae family.
Vegetative features:
Habit: Pinnately compound, alternately arranged with leaf tendrils with the pulvinus
present at the leaf base along folacious stipules.
Root: Tap root system with root nodules.
Floral features:
Inflorescence: Racemose, generally axial than terminal

Flower: Zygomorphic and bisexual flowers are found

Calyx: It contains five sepals which are gamosepalous while aestivation is imbricate.
Corolla: It contains five petals (polypetalous) with vexillary aestivation.
Androecium: It consists of ten anthers that are diadelphous with dithecous anthers.
Gynoecium: Monocarpellary superior ovary which is unilocular with marginal
placentation.
Fruit: Legume pod with non-endospermic seeds
Floral formula:
Economic importance: Peas are used as vegetables for making various culinary
preparations.

Flowers of Solanum nigrum

Family Solanaceae
Vegetative features:
Habit: Erect, herbaceous plant
Leaves: Simple, exstipulate leaves with reticulate venation
Stem: Erect stem with numerous branches.
Floral features:
Inflorescence: Solitary and axillary
Flowers: Actinomorphic, bisexual flowers
Calyx: Calyx is composed of five sepals that are united and persistent. Aestivation is
valvate.
Corolla: Corolla consists of five united petals with valvate aestivation.
Androecium: It consists of five epipetalous stamens.
Gynoecium: It consists of bicarpellary syncarpous superior ovary with axile

placentation.
Fruits: Berry
Seeds: Numerous, endospermous
Floral formula:
Economic importance: Used for medicinal purposes.

10. Describe the various types of placentations found in flowering plants.

Answer
Placentation: The arrangement of ovules within the ovary is known as placentation.
The placentation are of different types namely, marginal, axile, parietal, basal,
central and free central.
The various types of placentations found in flowering plants are:
Marginal placentation: The ovary in which the placenta forms a ridge along the
ventral suture of the ovary and the ovules develop on two separate rows is known to
have marginal placentation. This type of placentation is found in peas .

 Parietal placentation: When the ovules develop on the inner walls of the ovary, the
ovary is said to have parietal placentation.

Axile placentation: In axile placentation, the placenta is axial and ovules are
attached to it. Examples include China rose, lemon, and tomato.

Basal placentation: The ovary in which the placenta develops from its base and a
single ovule is found attached to the base is said to have basal placentation. It is
found in marigold and sunflower.

 Free central placentation: In free central placentation, the ovules develop on the
central axis while the septa are absent. This type of placentation is found in Dianthus
and primrose.

11. What is a flower? Describe the parts of a typical angiosperm flower?

Answer
The flower is the reproductive unit in the angiosperms. It is meant for sexual
reproduction. A flower has four different parts i.e., the calyx, corolla, androecium,
and gynoecium. Androecium and gynoecium represent the male and female
reproductive organs of a flower respectively. Parts of flower are:
The calyx: The calyx is the outermost whorl of the flower and the members are
called sepals. Generally, sepals are green, leaf like and protect the flower in the bud
stage. When the sepals of a flower are free, they are called polysepalous, while
fused sepals of a flower are called gamosepalous.
Corolla: Corolla is composed of petals. Petals are usually brightly coloured to
attract insects for pollination. When the petals are free, they are called polypetalous,
while fused petals are called gamopetalous. Corolla may be tubular, bell-shaped,
funnel-shaped or wheel-shaped.

 The androecium or the stamen is the male reproductive part of a flower. It

consists of two parts, the filament and the bilobed anther. The bilobed anther is the
site for meiosis and the generation of pollen grains.
Gynoecium represents the female reproductive part of a flower. It consists of an
ovary. The ovary is connected by a long tube (called style) to the stigma. The ovary
bears numerous ovules attached to the placenta.
12. How do the various leaf modifications help plants?
Answer
Leaves are often modified to perform functions other than photosynthesis. These
are:
Tendrils: The leaves of a pea plant are modified into tendrils that help the plant in
climbing.
Spines: The leaves in cactus are modified into sharp spines that act as an organ
of defense.
Phyllode: The leaves of some Australian acacia are short-lived and soon replaced
by flattened, green structures called phyllodes that arise from the petiole of the
leaves. The petioles in these plants synthesize food.
Pitcher: The leaves of the pitcher plant are modified into pitcher-like structures,
which contain digestive juices and help in trapping and digesting insects.
13. Define the term inflorescence. Explain the basis for the different types of
inflorescence in flowering plants.
Answer
Inflorescence is the manner in which the flowers are arranged on the flowering axis.
During the flowering season, the vegetative apex of the stem gets converted into a
floral meristem. Depending on
whether the apex gets converted into a flower or continues to grow, two major types
of inflorescences are defined racemose and cymose.

In racemose inflorescence, the floral axis continues to grow and produces flowers
laterally while in cymose inflorescence, the main axis terminates into a flower.
Hence, it is limited in growth.
14. Write the floral formula of an actinomorphic bisexual, hypogynous flower with five
united sepals, five free petals, five free stamens and two united carpals with superior
ovary and axile placentation.
Answer

The floral formula of the described flower is

as
Actinomorphic flowers are represented by the symbol
A bisexual flower is indicated by
The calyx contains five united sepals which can be represented as K (5).
The corolla consists of five free petals and it represented as C 5.
The androecium consists of five free stamens and is represented by A 5.
The gynoecium consists of a superior ovary with two united carpels and axile
placentations, which can be represented as
15. Describe the arrangement of floral members in relation to their insertion on
thalamus?
Answer
Based on the position of the calyx, corolla, and androecium (with respect to the
ovary on the thalamus), the flowers are described as hypognous, perigynous, and
epigynous.
In hypogynous flowers, the ovary occupies the highest position on the thalamus
while other floral parts are situated below it. In such flowers, the ovary is superior

e.g., China rose, mustard etc.

In perigynous flowers, the ovary is situated at the centre and other floral parts are
arranged on the rim of the thalamus. The ovary here is said to be half inferior e.g.,
plum, rose, peach
In epigynous flowers, the thalamus grows around the ovary fusing with its wall. The
other floral parts are present above the ovary. Hence, the ovary is said to be inferior
e.g., flowers of guava and cucumber.