Chapter 5: Morphology of Flowering Plants
Section A – Very Short Answer Questions
Q1. What is morphology in plants?
Ans. Morphology is the study of the external structure, form, and shape of plants and their parts.
Q2. Name the two main types of root systems in flowering plants.
Ans.
1. Taproot system – Found in dicots, e.g., mustard.
2. Fibrous root system – Found in monocots, e.g., wheat.
Q3. Give one example of prop roots.
Ans. Prop roots are seen in the banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis).
Q4. What is placentation?
Ans. Placentation is the arrangement of ovules within the ovary.
Q5. Name the type of venation in mango and maize.
Ans.
Mango → Reticulate venation
Maize → Parallel venation
Q6. Give an example of a parthenocarpic fruit.
Ans. Banana develops without fertilization and is parthenocarpic.
Q7. Name the family to which pea belongs.
Ans. Fabaceae family.
Q8. What type of aestivation is found in cotton?
Ans. Twisted aestivation.
Q9. Define actinomorphic flower with one example.
Ans. A flower that can be divided into two equal halves along any plane, e.g., mustard.
Section B – Short Answer Questions
Q10. Differentiate between taproot and fibrous root systems.
Ans.
Taproot: Develops from the radicle, deeply penetrating, e.g., mustard.
Fibrous root: Arises from the base of the stem, shallow and bushy, e.g., wheat.
Q11. What are adventitious roots? Give two examples.
Ans. Adventitious roots arise from parts of the plant other than the radicle.
Examples:
Prop roots of banyan
Stilt roots of maize
Q12. Define phyllotaxy and name its types.
Ans. Phyllotaxy is the arrangement of leaves on the stem. Types:
Alternate → Sunflower
Opposite → Guava
Whorled → Alstonia
Q13. Differentiate between hypogynous and epigynous flowers with examples.
Ans.
Hypogynous flower: Ovary is superior, e.g., mustard.
Epigynous flower: Ovary is inferior, e.g., cucumber.
Q14. What are compound leaves? Give two examples.
Ans. When the leaf blade is divided into leaflets, it is a compound leaf.
Examples: Neem, Gulmohar.
Section C – Short Answer Questions
Q15. Describe the types of placentation with examples.
Ans.
Marginal: Ovules along the margin, e.g., pea.
Axile: Ovules on a central axis, e.g., lemon.
Parietal: Ovules on inner walls, e.g., mustard.
Free central: Ovules on a central column, e.g., dianthus.
Basal: Ovules at the base, e.g., sunflower.
Draw diagrams
Q16. What are phyllode leaves? Give an example.
Ans. In some plants, the petiole becomes flattened and photosynthetic, replacing the lamina.
Example: Australian acacia.
Q17. Explain the different types of aestivation with examples.
Ans.
Valvate: Sepals/petals just touch, e.g., calotropis.
Twisted: Each petal overlaps the next, e.g., cotton.
Imbricate: Overlapping in an irregular way, e.g., cassia.
Vexillary: Standard, wings, and keel arrangement, e.g., pea.
Draw diagrams
Section D – Long Answer Questions
Q18. Explain the modifications of roots with examples.
Ans.
A. For storage: Carrot, radish, beetroot.
B. For support: Prop roots (banyan), stilt roots (maize).
C. For respiration: Pneumatophores in mangroves.
D. For climbing: Money plant roots.
E. For photosynthesis: Tinospora roots.
(Draw diagrams for each modification.)
Q19. Describe the Solanaceae family in detail with floral formula and diagram.
The Solanaceae family is commonly known as the potato or nightshade family. It includes
many food, medicinal, and ornamental plants.
Key Features:
Habit: Mostly herbs, shrubs, and small trees.
Leaves: Alternate, simple, exstipulate, reticulate venation.
Inflorescence: Solitary, cymose, or racemose.
Flowers: Bisexual, actinomorphic, pentamerous, hypogynous.
Calyx: 5 sepals, united (gamosepalous).
Corolla: 5 petals, united (gamopetalous), valvate or twisted aestivation.
Androecium: 5 stamens, epipetalous, alternate with petals.
Gynoecium: Bicarpellary, syncarpous, superior ovary, axile placentation.
Fruit: Berry or capsule.
Seed: Many, endospermic.
Floral Formula:
K(5) C(5) A5 G(2)
Examples:
Tomato, potato, brinjal, tobacco, capsicum, petunia.
Q20. Explain modifications of the stem with suitable examples.
Ans.
Storage stems: Potato, ginger
Support: Grapevine tendrils
Protection: Bougainvillea thorns
Photosynthesis: Opuntia
Vegetative propagation: Sugarcane, mint
Section E – HOTS
Q21. Why are pea flowers called papilionaceous?
Ans. They show vexillary aestivation with a standard petal, two wings, and two fused petals
forming a keel.
Q22. Potato and sweet potato are both modified structures but different. Why?
Ans. Potato is a stem tuber; sweet potato is a root tuber.
Q23. A flower has radial symmetry, valvate aestivation, and parietal placentation. Identify
the family.
Ans. Brassicaceae family (e.g., mustard).
Section F – Diagram-Based Questions
Types of root modifications
Leaf venation
Aestivation types
Placentation types
Flower parts
Floral diagrams: solanaceae
