Question

Read the following matches
Which of the following is correct?

(i) Guava - Spiral phyllotaxy
(ii) Ruscus - Cladode
(iii) Opuntia - Phylloclades
(iv) Mustard - Spiral phyllotaxy

Answer 1

Ruscus - Cladode

Cladodes are green stems of limited growth (one or two internode long) which can photosynthesise. Plants with cladodes have their leaves reduced to spines or scales to reduce transpiration (loss of water as vapour from aerial parts of the plant). The stem in Ruscus is a cladode.

Thus the pair in (ii) is correctly matched.

Opuntia - Phylloclades

Phylloclades are green stems of unlimited growth that mainly perform the function of photosynthesis for the plant. They bear nodes and internodes at intervals and bear leaves that fall off at an early age or are reduced to spines. This helps to reduce transpiration. The stem in Opuntia is modified into a phylloclade.

Thus the pair in (iii) is correctly matched.

Mustard - Spiral phyllotaxy

Mustard exhibits spiral phyllotaxy in which each node bears a single leaf.

Thus the pair in (iv) is correctly matched.