Chapter 5: Morphology of Flowering Plants Short Questions | biology Class 11 CBSE

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Chapter 5: Morphology of Flowering Plants Short Questions | biology Class 11 CBSE | ByteNotes.in

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Question 1

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What is the tap root system and how does it differ from the fibrous root system?

In the tap root system, the primary root develops by direct elongation of the radicle and bears secondary and tertiary lateral roots; it is characteristic of dicotyledonous plants like mustard.
In the fibrous root system, the primary root is short-lived and is replaced by a large number of roots arising from the base of the stem; it is characteristic of monocotyledonous plants like wheat.
The key difference is the origin: tap roots originate from the radicle while fibrous roots originate from the stem base, making fibrous roots adventitious in nature.

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Question 2

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What are adventitious roots? Give two examples of plants bearing them.

Adventitious roots are roots that arise from parts of the plant other than the radicle, such as from the stem, leaf, or other non-root organs.
They are found in plants like grass (from the base of the stem), Monstera (from stem nodes), and the banyan tree (from branches hanging down to the soil).
Unlike tap or fibrous roots, adventitious roots are not derived from the primary root and serve various functions such as anchorage, support, and absorption.

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Question 3

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Describe the functions of the four regions of the root tip.

The root cap (thimble-like structure at the apex) protects the tender meristematic region as the root pushes through the soil.
The region of meristematic activity contains small, thin-walled, densely cytoplasmic cells that divide repeatedly to produce new cells.
The region of elongation is responsible for the growth of the root in length due to rapid elongation and enlargement of cells; proximal to it is the region of maturation where root hairs develop and absorb water and minerals.

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Question 4

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List the main functions of the root system.

Roots absorb water and dissolved minerals from the soil through root hairs and transport them to the aerial parts of the plant.
Roots provide mechanical anchorage to the plant, keeping it firmly in place against wind and other physical forces.
Roots store reserve food material (as in carrot, radish) and synthesise plant growth regulators that influence growth and development.

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Question 5

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How does a stem differ from a root in its morphological features?

The stem bears nodes and internodes, while roots do not have nodes or internodes; leaves are borne at nodes on the stem.
The stem is positively phototropic (grows toward light) whereas roots are generally positively geotropic (grow toward gravity).
Stems bear multicellular hairs and axillary buds at nodes, while roots have unicellular root hairs in the region of maturation and no buds.

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Question 6

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Name the three main parts of a typical leaf and state the function of each.

The leaf base attaches the leaf to the stem and may bear stipules; in monocots it expands into a sheath that partially or wholly covers the stem.
The petiole holds the lamina to light and allows leaf blades to flutter in wind, thereby cooling the leaf and bringing fresh air to its surface.
The lamina (leaf blade) is the green expanded part containing veins and veinlets; it is the primary site of photosynthesis and gas exchange.

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Question 7

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Distinguish between reticulate and parallel venation with examples.

In reticulate venation, the veinlets form a network throughout the lamina; this is characteristic of leaves of dicotyledonous plants like mango and hibiscus.
In parallel venation, the veins run parallel to each other within the lamina without forming a network; this is characteristic of most monocotyledonous plants like wheat and maize.
Venation is an important taxonomic character used to distinguish dicots (reticulate) from monocots (parallel) in the field.

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Question 8

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What is phyllotaxy? Name and briefly describe its three types.

Phyllotaxy is the pattern of arrangement of leaves on the stem or branch, which ensures maximum light exposure to each leaf.
In alternate phyllotaxy, a single leaf arises at each node alternately (e.g., china rose, mustard); in opposite phyllotaxy, a pair of leaves arise at each node facing each other (e.g., Calotropis, guava).
In whorled phyllotaxy, more than two leaves arise at each node and form a whorl around the stem, as in Alstonia.

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Question 9

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Distinguish between a simple leaf and a compound leaf.

In a simple leaf, the lamina is entire or, if incised, the incisions do not reach the midrib; the whole leaf remains as a single unit.
In a compound leaf, the incisions of the lamina reach up to the midrib, breaking it into a number of distinct leaflets; e.g., neem (pinnately compound) and silk cotton (palmately compound).
A key distinction is that a bud is present in the axil of the petiole in both types, but no bud is present in the axil of the individual leaflets of a compound leaf.

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Question 10

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What is inflorescence? Differentiate between racemose and cymose types.

Inflorescence is the arrangement of flowers on the floral axis; it results when the shoot apical meristem transforms into a floral meristem and the axis bears floral appendages instead of leaves.
In racemose inflorescence, the main axis continues to grow indefinitely and flowers are borne laterally in acropetal succession (older at the base, younger toward the apex), e.g., mustard.
In cymose inflorescence, the main axis terminates in a flower, limiting growth; additional flowers are borne in basipetal order (older flowers on top), e.g., cotton.

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Question 11

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What is aestivation? Name the types seen in calyx and corolla.

Aestivation is the mode of arrangement of sepals or petals in the floral bud with respect to other members of the same whorl before the flower opens.
The main types are: valvate (petals/sepals just touch at margins without overlapping, e.g., Calotropis), twisted (one margin of each overlaps the next, e.g., china rose), and imbricate (overlap but not in any fixed direction, e.g., Cassia).
Vexillary (papilionaceous) aestivation, found in pea and bean, is a special type where the largest petal (standard) overlaps two lateral petals (wings), which in turn overlap the two smallest anterior petals (keel).

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Question 12

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What are the four whorls of a typical flower and which are reproductive?

A typical flower has four whorls arranged on the thalamus (receptacle): calyx (outermost), corolla, androecium, and gynoecium (innermost).
Calyx and corolla are accessory organs; in some flowers like lily where they are not distinct, they are collectively called the perianth.
Androecium (male) and gynoecium (female) are the reproductive organs; a flower with both is bisexual, and one with only stamens or only carpels is unisexual.

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Question 13

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Distinguish between actinomorphic and zygomorphic flowers with examples.

Actinomorphic (radially symmetrical) flowers can be divided into two equal halves by any radial plane passing through the centre, e.g., mustard, datura, chilli.
Zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical) flowers can be divided into two similar halves only in one particular vertical plane, e.g., pea, gulmohur, bean, Cassia.
A flower is asymmetric if it cannot be divided into two equal halves by any vertical plane, as seen in canna.

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Chapter 5: Morphology of Flowering Plants | Short Questions

What is the tap root system and how does it differ from the fibrous root system?

What are adventitious roots? Give two examples of plants bearing them.

Describe the functions of the four regions of the root tip.

List the main functions of the root system.

How does a stem differ from a root in its morphological features?

Name the three main parts of a typical leaf and state the function of each.

Distinguish between reticulate and parallel venation with examples.

What is phyllotaxy? Name and briefly describe its three types.

Distinguish between a simple leaf and a compound leaf.

What is inflorescence? Differentiate between racemose and cymose types.

What is aestivation? Name the types seen in calyx and corolla.

What are the four whorls of a typical flower and which are reproductive?

Distinguish between actinomorphic and zygomorphic flowers with examples.

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