Chapter 5 : Morphology of Flowering Plants

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. Roots of some plants change their shape and structure and become modified to perform certain functions other than absorption and conduction of water and minerals. It is called modification of roots. Roots are modified for support, storage of food and respiration, etc.
(a) Root modification in banyan tree : The banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) has massive pillar-like adventitious roots arising from the aerial part of the stem. These roots grow towards the ground and provide support to the tree. Such roots are called prop roots.
(b) Root modification in turnip : The modification of root found in turnip is napiform for food storage. The upper portion of these fleshy roots is inflated or swollen which tapers towards the lower end.
(c) Root modification in mangrove trees : The roots of mangrove plants grow vertically upwards from the soil for the absorption of oxygen from the atmosphere as the soil is poorly aerated. These types of roots are called pneumatophores.

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) There are not always roots for underground plant because sometimes the stem also becomes underground and gets modified into various forms to complete several functions of storage, vegetative propagation, perennation, etc. Underground modifications of stems are tuber, rhizome, corm and bulb. The underground stems can be distinguished from roots externally by the presence of nodes and internodes, axillary buds, scale leaves etc. and by absence of root cap and root hairs.
(ii) During the flowering season, the apical meristem gives rise to the floral meristem. The axis of the stem gets condensed, while the internodes lie near each other. Instead of leaves, various floral appendages arise from the node. Therefore, it can be said that the flower is a modified shoot.

3. How is a pinnately compound leaf different from a palmately compound leaf?
Answer.

Pinnately compound leafPalmately compound leaf
The leaflets are attached to the common axis, called rachis.The leaflets are attached at a common point on the leaf stalk.
Examples include neem and Cassia fistula( also called golden shower plant)Examples include silk cotton (Bombax ) and Cannabis.

4.Explain with suitable examples the different types of phyllotaxy.

Answer. Phyllotaxy can be defined as the pattern of arrangement of leaves on the stem or branch. It is mainly of three types – alternate, opposite and whorled. In alternate type of phyllotaxy, a single leaf arises at each node in alternate manner, as in china rose, mustard and sunflower plants. In opposite type, a pair of leaves arises at each node and lie opposite to each other as in Calotropis and guava plants. If more than two leaves arise at a node and form a whorl it is called whorled phyllotaxy as in Alstonia.

5. Define the following terms:
(a) aestivation (b) placentation
(c) actinomorphic (d) zygomorphic
(e) superior ovary (f) perigynous flower (g) epipetalous stamen.

Answer. (a) Aestivation : The mode of arrangement of accessory floral organs (sepals and petals) in relation to one another in floral bud is known as aestivation. The main type of aestivation are valvate, twisted, imbricate, and vexillary.
(b) Placentation : The arrangement of ovules within the ovary is known as placentation. It is primarily of five types, namely marginal, basal, parietal, axile, and free central.
(c) Actinomorphic : When flower can be divided into equal radial halves in any radial plane passing through the centre, it is said to be actinomorphic, e.g., mustard, Datura etc.
(d) Zygomorphic : When a flower can be divided into two similar halves by a single vertical plane, it is said to be zygomorphic, e.g., pea, gulmohar, bean, Cassia.
(e) Superior ovary : In hypogynous flower, the gynoecium occupies the highest position while the other parts are situated below it. The ovary in such flowers is said to be superior, e.g., mustard, brinjal.
(f) Perigynous flower: 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. Examples include plum and rose.
(g) Epipetalous stamen : When stamens are attached to the petals, they are called epipetalous stamens e.g., brinjal.

6.Differentiate between
(a) Racemose and cymose inflorescence
(b) Fibrous root and adventitious root
(c) Apocarpous and syncarpous ovary

Answer.(a) Differences between racemose and cymose inflorescence are as follows:

Racemose InflorescenceCymose Inflorescence
The main axis continues to growThe main axis terminates in a flower.
Growth is not limited.Growth is limited
The flowers are borne in an acropetal successionFlowers are borne in a basipetal succession
The grouping of flowers is less common and arrangement of flowers in a group is centripetalThe grouping of flowers is more common and arrangement of flowers in a group is centrifugal

 (b) Differences between fibrous and adventitious roots are as follows :

Fibrous rootAdventitious root
In monocots, the primary root which develops from the radicle of the seed is short-lived 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.

7. Draw the labelled diagram of the following:
(i) Gram seed
(ii) V.S. of maize seed

Answer.
(a)

NCERT solutions for class 11 biology Chapter 5 Morphology of flowering plants

(b)

NCERT solutions for class 11

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 semi-technical 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: Chapter 5 Morphology of flowering plants
Economic importance: Peas are used as vegetables for making various culinary preparations.

Floral Diagram of Fabaceae

→ 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:NCERT solutions for class 11 biology Chapter 5 Morphology of flowering plants
Economic importance: Used for medicinal purposes.

Floral Diagram of Solanum nigrum


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.

NCERT solutions for class 11 biology Chapter 5 Morphology of flowering plants

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

NCERT solutions for class 11 biology Chapter 5 Morphology of flowering plants

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

NCERT solutions for class 11 biology Chapter 5 Morphology of flowering plants

→ 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.

NCERT solutions for class 11 biology

→ 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.

NCERT solutions


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 NCERT solutions for class 11 biology
as
Actinomorphic flowers are represented by the symbol Morphology of flowering plants
A bisexual flower is indicated byNCERT solutions for class 11 biology Chapter 5 Morphology of flowering plants
The calyx contains five united sepals which can be represented as K(5).
The corolla consists of five free petals and it represented as C5.
The androecium consists of five free stamens and is represented by A5.
The gynoecium consists of a superior ovary with two united carpels and axile placentations, which can be represented as G2

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.