Question

The 'walking fern' is so named because

• A. Its spores are able to walk.
• B. It propagates vegetatively by its leaf tips.
• C. It is dispersed through the agency of walking animals.
• D. It knows how to walk by itself.

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

It propagates vegetatively by its leaf tips.

'Walking fern' refers to the two species of fern that belong to the genus Asplenium. The term 'walking fern' is used because the new plantlets grow wherever the arching leaves of the parent plants touch the ground. This gives a walking effect.