Question

The long silky hair coming out of cob of Maize are

• A. Meant for fruit dispersal
• B. Meant for attracting insects
• C. Meant for protecting seeds
• D. Long styles and stigmas

Answer 1

The correct option is D Long styles and stigmas

The maize plant is monoecious as both the male and female flowers are present on the same plant. The male flowers are terminally borne and are called the tassels. The female flowers are laterally borne and are called the cobs or ears. The long silky hair-like outgrowth can be seen coming out from the cobs of maize. These are the modified long styles and stigmas of the carpel designed to capture the wind-borne pollen grain because, for maize, the wind acts as pollinating agent.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Long styles and stigmas'