Question

Plants growing well in full sunlight are called as

• A. Xerophytes
• B. Mesophytes
• C. Heliophytes
• D. Sciophytes

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Heliophytes

The plants which grow best in full sunlight are called heliophytes. Heliophytes have a thicker stem, short internodes, many branches, well-developed roots, thick leathery leaves with more hairs per unit area. Intense light favours the formation of flowers, fruits and seeds. Mechanical tissues and xylem bundles are well developed. Leaf tresophyll is well differentiated into palisade and spongy parenchyma. The development of palisade parenchyma takes place near the upper surface of the leaf. It protects the inner tissues from intense light. The plants which grow best at lower light intensities are called sciophytes.