60 free MCQs on Morphology of Flowering Plants with worked answers and explanations. External structure of roots, stems, and leaves plus internal tissue organization. High marks in Class 11 and NEET.
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In a dicot stem, vascular bundles are arranged in a single ring (with cambium between xylem and phloem, enabling secondary growth); in a monocot stem, bundles are scattered throughout with no cambium, so monocots can't undergo secondary growth (no wood formation).
Q1.
What is the tap root system?
Answer: B. A main primary root with lateral branches
Why: A tap root system has a single main primary root that grows downward with lateral branch roots. It is characteristic of dicotyledons like carrot, radish, and sunflower.
Q2.
Which modification of the stem is found in potato?
Answer: C. Tuber
Why: Potato is a stem tuber - a swollen underground stem that stores food. The 'eyes' on potatoes are nodes with axillary buds, confirming it is a modified stem, not a root.
Q3.
Leaves with net-like veins are called
Answer: B. Reticulate venation
Why: Reticulate (net-like) venation is characteristic of dicotyledonous leaves. The veins form an interconnected network. Monocots have parallel venation.
Q4.
Ginger is a modified underground stem called a
Answer: C. Rhizome
Why: Ginger is a rhizome - a horizontal underground stem that stores food. It has nodes, internodes, scale leaves, and buds. Other examples: turmeric, lotus, fern.
Q5.
Simple leaves differ from compound leaves in that
Answer: B. Simple leaves have a single, undivided lamina
Why: A simple leaf has a single, undivided leaf blade (lamina). A compound leaf has the blade divided into leaflets. Examples: simple - mango, banyan; compound - rose, neem, pea.
Q6.
Onion is an example of which stem modification?
Answer: D. Bulb
Why: Onion is a bulb - a modified underground stem with a short stem base bearing fleshy scale leaves (modified leaves) that store food. Other examples: garlic, tulip, lily.
Q7.
The arrangement of leaves on a stem is called
Answer: A. Phyllotaxy
Why: Phyllotaxy refers to the arrangement of leaves on the stem. Types include alternate (one leaf per node), opposite (two leaves per node), and whorled (more than two per node).
Q8.
Which part of the stem is between two nodes?
Answer: B. Internode
Why: An internode is the stem segment between two nodes. Nodes are points where leaves, branches, or flowers arise. Internodes vary in length and are elongated in bamboo.
Q9.
The part of a plant that normally grows underground and absorbs water is the:
Answer: A. root
Why: The root anchors the plant and absorbs water and minerals.
Q10.
The flat green organ of a plant that carries out most photosynthesis is the:
Answer: A. leaf
Why: Leaves are the main photosynthetic organs of the plant.
Q11.
The part of a plant that bears leaves, buds and flowers is the:
Answer: A. stem
Why: The stem bears leaves, buds and flowers and conducts materials.
Q12.
The reproductive organ of a flowering plant is the:
Answer: A. flower
Why: The flower is the reproductive structure of angiosperms.
Q13.
The taproot system develops from the:
Answer: A. radicle
Why: The taproot grows directly from the radicle of the embryo.
Q14.
In which root system does one main root bear smaller lateral roots?
Answer: A. taproot system
Why: A taproot system has a prominent primary root with lateral branches.
Q15.
The tiny pores on a leaf used for gas exchange are the:
Answer: A. stomata
Why: Stomata are pores, mainly on leaves, that allow gas exchange.
Q16.
The point on a stem from which a leaf arises is called the:
Answer: A. node
Why: A node is the region of the stem where leaves are borne.
Q17.
The stalk that joins a leaf blade to the stem is the:
Answer: A. petiole
Why: The petiole is the stalk connecting the leaf blade to the stem.
Q18.
The brightly coloured parts of a flower that attract pollinators are the:
Answer: A. petals
Why: Petals are usually coloured and help attract pollinators.
Q19.
The green, leaf-like outer parts that protect a flower bud are the:
Answer: A. sepals
Why: Sepals form the outermost whorl and protect the developing bud.
Q20.
The male reproductive part of a flower is the:
Answer: A. stamen
Why: The stamen is the male reproductive organ, made of anther and filament.
Q21.
Thorn of Bougainvillea is an example of which stem modification?
Answer: B. Stem spine (thorn)
Why: Bougainvillea has stem modifications into hard, sharp thorns (spines) that are modified axillary buds or stems. They provide defense. Contrast with leaf-spine (cactus) and prickle (rose - epidermal outgrowth).
Q22.
What distinguishes a fibrous root system advantage in soil erosion prevention?
Answer: B. Fibrous roots spread wide and shallow, binding topsoil and preventing erosion better
Why: Fibrous root systems spread extensively near the soil surface, binding topsoil particles and preventing soil erosion by wind and water. Grasses are particularly effective ground cover plants for this reason.
Q23.
What is lenticel?
Answer: B. A pore in bark for gas exchange in woody stems
Why: Lenticels are small pores in the bark (periderm) of woody plants that allow gas exchange between internal tissues and the atmosphere, replacing stomata which are covered by bark.
Q24.
What is a phylloclade?
Answer: B. A flattened, photosynthetic stem that resembles a leaf, found in Opuntia (cactus)
Why: A phylloclade is a flattened, green, photosynthetic stem that performs leaf functions. Found in Opuntia (cactus) and Casuarina. The true leaves are reduced to spines or scales to reduce water loss in dry habitats.
Q25.
What is a bulbil?
Answer: B. A small bulb-like structure that functions as a vegetative propagule (asexual reproduction)
Why: Bulbils are small, fleshy, vegetative buds that fall from the parent plant and germinate to form new individuals. Found in Agave (leaf bulbils), Oxalis (stem bulbils), and some lilies. They represent vegetative propagation.
Q26.
When ovules are borne on the central axis of a multilocular ovary, the placentation is:
Answer: C. axile
Why: In axile placentation the placenta is axial and ovules attach to the central axis of a chambered ovary (e.g. tomato, lemon).
Q27.
Reticulate venation, a network of veins in the leaf lamina, is characteristic of:
Answer: D. dicots
Why: Dicot leaves typically show reticulate venation; monocots usually show parallel venation.
Q28.
The female reproductive part of a flower is the:
Answer: A. carpel
Why: The carpel (pistil) is the female reproductive part of a flower.
Q29.
The swollen basal part of a carpel that contains the ovules is the:
Answer: A. ovary
Why: The ovary is the basal part of the carpel that houses the ovules.
Q30.
The part of a stamen that produces pollen grains is the:
Answer: A. anther
Why: The anther is the pollen-producing part of the stamen.
Q31.
The arrangement of flowers on the floral axis is called the:
Answer: A. inflorescence
Why: The inflorescence is the arrangement of flowers on the floral axis.
Q32.
In a racemose inflorescence, the main axis:
Answer: A. keeps growing
Why: In racemose types the main axis continues to grow and bears flowers laterally.
Q33.
Reticulate (net-like) venation is typically found in:
Answer: A. dicot leaves
Why: Dicot leaves usually show reticulate venation.
Q34.
Parallel venation is characteristic of the leaves of:
Answer: A. monocots
Why: Monocot leaves typically have parallel venation.
Q35.
The arrangement of leaves on a stem or branch is called:
Answer: A. phyllotaxy
Why: Phyllotaxy is the pattern of arrangement of leaves on the stem.
Q36.
The mode of arrangement of sepals and petals in a flower bud is called:
Answer: A. aestivation
Why: Aestivation is the arrangement of perianth parts in the floral bud.
Q37.
The arrangement of ovules within the ovary is called:
Answer: A. placentation
Why: Placentation is the arrangement of ovules on the placenta inside the ovary.
Q38.
A flower bearing both stamens and carpels is described as:
Answer: A. bisexual
Why: A bisexual (perfect) flower has both stamens and carpels.
Q39.
When the ovary is placed above the other floral parts, the flower is:
Answer: A. hypogynous
Why: A hypogynous flower has a superior ovary borne above the other parts.
Q40.
After fertilisation, a fruit develops from the:
Answer: A. ovary
Why: The ovary matures into the fruit after fertilisation.
Q41.
In the pea flower the five petals show a characteristic aestivation called:
Answer: C. vexillary
Why: The papilionaceous (pea) corolla has vexillary aestivation: a large standard overlaps two wings, which overlap the keel.
Q42.
The juicy edible part of a mango, which is a drupe, develops from the:
Answer: B. mesocarp
Why: In a mango the fleshy, edible portion is the mesocarp; the stony shell around the seed is the endocarp.
Q43.
The flower head of a sunflower is an inflorescence of the type:
Answer: A. capitulum
Why: A sunflower is a capitulum: many small florets crowded on a flattened receptacle, typical of the Asteraceae.
Q44.
The floral symbol ⊕ in a floral formula denotes a flower that is:
Answer: B. actinomorphic
Why: ⊕ marks an actinomorphic (radially symmetrical) flower, which can be cut into equal halves through any diameter.
Q45.
In the family Solanaceae the ovary is bicarpellary with axile placentation and is:
Answer: B. bilocular
Why: Solanaceae (e.g. Solanum) have a bilocular ovary, often becoming falsely multilocular due to a swollen placenta.
Q46.
In the pea family (Fabaceae), the corolla shows which type of aestivation?
Answer: A. vexillary
Why: Fabaceae have vexillary (papilionaceous) aestivation of the corolla.
Q47.
The placentation seen in the family Fabaceae is:
Answer: A. marginal
Why: Fabaceae show marginal placentation in a monocarpellary ovary.
Q48.
The root nodules of Fabaceae harbour bacteria that fix:
Answer: A. nitrogen
Why: Rhizobium in Fabaceae root nodules fixes atmospheric nitrogen.
Q49.
In the family Solanaceae (potato family), the placentation is:
Answer: A. axile
Why: Solanaceae show axile placentation in a bicarpellary, syncarpous ovary.
Q50.
How many stamens does a typical Solanaceae flower possess?
Answer: A. five
Why: Solanaceae flowers usually bear five epipetalous stamens.
Q51.
A Liliaceae flower is typically trimerous, meaning its parts occur in:
Answer: A. threes
Why: Liliaceae are trimerous, with floral parts in multiples of three.
Q52.
The gynoecium of the family Liliaceae is:
Answer: A. tricarpellary
Why: Liliaceae have a tricarpellary, syncarpous gynoecium.
Q53.
An aggregate fruit develops from a single flower having:
Answer: A. many free carpels
Why: Aggregate fruits form from a flower with many free (apocarpous) carpels.
Q54.
A fruit that develops from a whole inflorescence is called a ___ fruit:
Answer: A. composite
Why: Composite (multiple) fruits develop from an entire inflorescence.
Q55.
In a mango, the juicy edible part of the fruit is the:
Answer: A. mesocarp
Why: In a mango drupe the fleshy edible portion is the mesocarp.
Q56.
In a drupe such as the mango, the hard stony layer is the:
Answer: A. endocarp
Why: The stony inner layer of a drupe is the endocarp.
Q57.
A condition in which stamens are united only by their anthers is called:
Answer: A. syngenesious
Why: Syngenesious stamens are fused by their anthers, as in the sunflower family.
Q58.
Parthenocarpic fruits are those that develop:
Answer: A. without fertilisation
Why: Parthenocarpic fruits form without fertilisation and are usually seedless.
Q59.
A perianth, where the calyx and corolla are not distinguishable, is typical of:
Answer: A. Liliaceae
Why: In Liliaceae the perianth consists of tepals, not distinct sepals and petals.
Q60.
The reduced leaf-like structure that bears a flower in its axil is called a:
Answer: A. bract
Why: A bract is a specialised leaf in whose axil a flower arises.