Question

Name any two $C_4$ plants, Give anatomical characters of these plants.

Answer 1

Most of the plants that are adapted to dry tropical regions have the $C_4$ pathway, hence known as $C_4$ plants. Sugarcane and Maize are examples of $C_4$ plants.

$C_4$ plants have the special type of leaf anatomy called Kranz anatomy. They can tolerate higher temperatures and show a response to high intensities of light. They have two types of cells i.e., mesophyll cells and bundle sheath cells, which are required for $C_4$ pathway. The particularly large cells around the vascular bundles of $C_4$ plants are called bundle sheath cells, these cells may form several layers around the vascular bundles, they are characterised by having a large number of dimorphic chloroplasts, grana are absent, thick walls impervious to gaseous exchange and no intercellular spaces.