Morphology

1.
Underground Stem Modifications
1. Rhizome – It runs parallel to the ground, the upper por-

tion can produce scaly leaves and the bottom portion can
give rise to adventitious roots. They contain, nodes, in-
ternodes and buds.
They store food. Examples: Ginger, turmeric
2. Bulb – Stem is reduced and surrounded by scale leaves,
modified bulbs can be seen.Examples: Tulips, Lilies, Daf-
fodils, Onion, Garlic
3. Corm – It is a short upright stem, covered with scaly
leaves. It is hard as compared to bulbs.Examples: Coloca-
sia, Yam, Saffron
4. Tuber – Here the terminal of the stem is fleshy and stores
food. The stem contains nodes and internodes but due to
swelling, they are not very distinct. Presence of scaly
leaves at nodes can be seen as eyes or scars.Examples:
Potato, Artichokes
General examples from NCERT: Potato, ginger, turmeric, za-
minkand and colocasia.
2. Subaerial Stem Modifications
5. Stolon – A short and weak aerial branch arises from the

main axis it bends down and touches the ground forming
roots. A new plant develops there.Examples: Mint, Straw-
berry
6. Sucker – Sucker arises from the underground portion of
the stem, it grows horizontally under the soil and then
comes above the ground. It develops adventitious roots
and shoots with leaves and forms a new plant.Exam-
ples: Chrysanthemum, banana, pineapple.
7. Offsets – They are found mostly in aquatic plants. A lat-
eral branch arises having short internodes. At nodes,
rosettes of leaves develop at the upper portion and roots
below.Examples: Pistia, Eichornia
3. Aerial Stem Modification

1. Tendrils – These are coiled and a delicate part, which are
used for climbing. They develop from the axillary bud.Ex-
amples: grapevines, watermelons, pumpkin, cucumber
2. Thorns – These are developed from axillary buds. They
are pointed, woody and hard, spiny structures, which pro-
vide protection from grazing animals.Exam-
ples: Bougainvillea, citrus
3. Cladode and Phylloclade – These are modified stems,
which are green and perform photosynthesis. They be-
come fleshy. Leaves are reduced to spines. These are
commonly found in xerophytic plants to reduce water
loss.Examples: Opuntia, Euphorbia(cylindrical) and as-
paragus
Modifications of Tap Roots

For Food Storage
the taproots of carrot and turnip get swollen to store
food.
• Conical roots are broad at the base and conical at

the apex, eg., carrot
• Fusiform roots are swollen in the middle and ta-
pering towards both the ends, eg., radish
• Napiform roots are spherical at the base and ta-
per towards the apex, eg., turnip
Mustard is a tap root plant.
Nodulated Roots
Roots of the leguminous plants are modified into root
nodules which contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria such
as Rhizobium.
Modification of Adventitious Roots

For Food Storage
Adventitious roots are modified into:
• Simple Tuberous Roots are swollen and do not as-

sume any shape. For eg., sweet potato
For Support
• Prop Roots: These roots develop from the
branches of the tree, hang downwards, and pene-
trate into the ground thereby supporting the tree.
Eg., roots of the banyan tree.
• Stilt Roots: These roots grow obliquely from the
basal node of the stem. Eg., roots of the sugar-
cane and maize.
In plants like Rhizophora growing in swampy area. As

many roots come out of the ground and grow verti-
cally upwards. Such roots are called pneu-
matophores
Phyllotaxy:
Alternate: china rose, mustard and sunflower

Opposite: Calatropis and guava
Whorled: Alstonia
Modifications in leaves:
tendrils: pea
Spines: Cacti
Australian acacia has small and short-lived leaves,
photosynthesis carried out by petioles
Insectivores like Venus fly trap and pitcher plant have
modified leaves too
Flowers
Actinomorphic(Radial symmetry): mustard, datura and
chilli.
Zygomorphic(bilateral symmetry): pea, Gulmohar, bean
and cassia
Hypogynous(Superior ovary): Mustard, china rose and

brinjal.
Perigynous(Gynoceium at rim of thalamus, Half infe-
rior): plum, rose and peach
Epigynous(inferior ovary): guava and cucumber
Aestivation:
Valvate: When sepals or petals in a whorl just touch
one another at the margin, without overlapping, as
in Calotropis.
Twisted: If one margin of the appendage overlaps that
of the next one and so on as in china rose, lady’s
finger and cotton.
Imbricate: If the margins of sepals or petals overlap
one another but not in any particular direction as
in Cassia and gulmohur.
Vexillary: pea and bean flowers, there are five petals,
the largest (standard) overlaps the two lateral
petals (wings) which in turn overlap the two small-
est anterior petals (keel)
Also known as papilionaceous.
Androecium:
When stamens are attached to the petals, they are epipetalous as in brinjal
epiphyllous when attached to the perianth as in the flowers of lily.
The stamens may be united into one bunch or one bundle (monoadelp-
hous) as in china rose, or
two bundles (diadelphous) as in pea,
or into more than two bundles (polyadelphous) as in citrus.
There may be a variation in the length of filaments within a flower, as in
Salvia and mustard.
Gynoecium:
When more than one carpel is present:

they may be free (as in lotus and rose) and are called apocarpous
Or syncarpous when carpels are fused, as in mustard and tomato
Placentation:
1. marginal placentation the placenta forms a ridge along the ventral su-
ture of the ovary and the ovules are borne on this ridge forming two
rows, as in pea.
2. When the placenta is axial and the ovules are attached to it in a mul-
tilocular ovary, the placentation is said to be axile, as in china rose,
tomato and lemon.
3. parietal placentation, the ovules develop on the inner wall of the
ovary or on peripheral part. Ovary is one-chambered but it becomes two

chambered due to the formation of the false septum, e.g., mustard and
Argemone.
4. When the ovules are borne on central axis and septa are absent, as in
Dianthus and Primrose the placentation is called free central.
5. In basal placentation, the placenta develops at the base of ovary and

a single ovule is attached to it, as in sunflower, marigold.
Liliacae:

Morphology

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1.

Underground Stem Modifications

1. Rhizome – It runs parallel to the ground, the upper por-

2. Subaerial Stem Modifications

5. Stolon – A short and weak aerial branch arises from the

3. Aerial Stem Modification

Modifications of Tap Roots

• Conical roots are broad at the base and conical at

Modification of Adventitious Roots

• Simple Tuberous Roots are swollen and do not as-

In plants like Rhizophora growing in swampy area. As

Alternate: china rose, mustard and sunflower

Hypogynous(Superior ovary): Mustard, china rose and

When more than one carpel is present:

Or syncarpous when carpels are fused, as in mustard and tomato

ovary or on peripheral part. Ovary is one-chambered but it becomes two

5. In basal placentation, the placenta develops at the base of ovary and

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