Question

A plant that flowers only once in 12 years, found in hilly areas of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, is ____________.

• A. water hyacinth
• B. Strobilanthus kunthiana
• C. Bambusa vulgaris
• D. both b and c

Answer 1

The correct option is B Strobilanthus kunthiana

The plants that flower only once during their lifetime are called monocarpic plants. Both neelakuranji and bamboo are monocarpic but they differ in their vegetative phase.

Strobilanthus kunthiana (neelakuranji) flowers once every 12 years. This plant flowered during September-October in 2006. They are seen on tracks of hilly areas in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Hence option b is correct.

Figure : Strobilanthus kunthiana

Bambusa vulgaris is the scientific name of a bamboo plant. Bamboo plants flowers only once in 50-100 years in their lifetime.

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is one of the most invasive weeds which reproduce very fast by vegetative propagation using offset. It drains oxygen from the water which causes the death of fishes and other aquatic organisms. Hence it is called ‘Terror of Bengal’.

Figure : Eichhornia crassipes

Ficus benghalensis is the scientific name of the banyan tree. It has a lifespan of more than 200 years. It is a perennial plant. It flowers many times during the course of its lifetime.