CBSE Class 11 Biology – Anatomy of Flowering Plants | Very Short Answer Questions (NCERT Based)

📘 Course & Examination Details

• Course: CBSE Class 11 Biology
• Unit: Unit II – Structural Organisation in Animals and Plants
• Chapter: Chapter 6 – Anatomy of Flowering Plants
• Question Type: Very Short Answer Questions (20–30 words)
• Total Questions: 50
• Exam Relevance:
  • CBSE Class 11 Annual Examination
  • School Unit Tests & Term Exams
  • NCERT-based Concept Revision

🌱 Section A: Plant Tissues (Q1–Q15)

Q1. What is a tissue?
Ans: A tissue is a group of cells having a common origin and similar structure that work together to perform a specific function.

Q2. Define meristematic tissue.
Ans: Meristematic tissue consists of actively dividing cells responsible for plant growth, found mainly at root tips, shoot tips, and lateral regions.

Q3. Name the three types of meristematic tissues.
Ans: Apical meristem, intercalary meristem, and lateral meristem are the three types of meristematic tissues found in plants.

Q4. What is the function of apical meristem?
Ans: Apical meristem is responsible for primary growth of plants, resulting in an increase in length of roots and shoots.

Q5. Where is intercalary meristem found?
Ans: Intercalary meristem is found at the bases of internodes or leaves, especially in grasses, and helps in regrowth.

Q6. Define permanent tissue.
Ans: Permanent tissues are tissues derived from meristems that have lost the ability to divide and perform specific structural or functional roles.

Q7. Name the simple permanent tissues.
Ans: Parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma are the three types of simple permanent tissues in plants.

Q8. State one function of parenchyma.
Ans: Parenchyma mainly functions in storage of food, photosynthesis when chlorophyll is present, and gaseous exchange in aquatic plants.

Q9. What is collenchyma?
Ans: Collenchyma is a living mechanical tissue with unevenly thickened cell walls that provides flexibility and support to growing plant parts.

Q10. Name the function of sclerenchyma.
Ans: Sclerenchyma provides mechanical strength and rigidity to plant parts due to thick, lignified cell walls.

Q11. Define complex permanent tissue.
Ans: Complex permanent tissues are composed of more than one type of cell and are mainly involved in conduction of water and food.

Q12. Name the components of xylem.
Ans: Xylem consists of tracheids, vessels, xylem fibres, and xylem parenchyma.

Q13. What is the main function of phloem?
Ans: Phloem transports organic food materials, mainly sugars, from leaves to other parts of the plant.

Q14. Which cells of phloem are living?
Ans: Sieve tube elements, companion cells, and phloem parenchyma are living cells of phloem, except phloem fibres.

Q15. Which xylem elements are dead?
Ans: Tracheids, vessels, and xylem fibres are dead elements of xylem, while xylem parenchyma remains living.

🌿 Section B: Internal Structure of Root (Q16–Q25)

Q16. What is the outermost layer of a root called?
Ans: The outermost layer of a root is called epiblema, which bears root hairs for absorption of water and minerals.

Q17. What is the function of cortex in root?
Ans: The cortex stores food materials and helps in the conduction of water from epidermis to vascular tissues.

Q18. What are Casparian strips?
Ans: Casparian strips are bands of suberin present in endodermal cell walls that regulate movement of water and minerals.

Q19. What is the function of pericycle?
Ans: Pericycle gives rise to lateral roots and contributes to secondary growth in dicot roots.

Q20. What is meant by radial vascular bundle?
Ans: In radial vascular bundles, xylem and phloem are arranged alternately on different radii, as seen in roots.

Q21. Define exarch xylem.
Ans: Exarch xylem refers to xylem arrangement where protoxylem lies towards the periphery and metaxylem towards the center.

Q22. Mention one feature of dicot root.
Ans: Dicot roots have fewer xylem bundles, usually diarch to hexarch, with a small or absent pith.

Q23. Mention one feature of monocot root.
Ans: Monocot roots have numerous xylem bundles arranged radially and a large, well-developed central pith.

Q24. Is secondary growth present in monocot roots?
Ans: Secondary growth is absent in monocot roots due to lack of vascular cambium.

Q25. What is pith?
Ans: Pith is the central region of ground tissue mainly involved in storage, well developed in monocot roots.

🌿 Section C: Internal Structure of Stem (Q26–Q35)

Q26. What type of vascular bundles are found in dicot stem?
Ans: Dicot stems have conjoint, collateral, and open vascular bundles arranged in a ring.

Q27. What is meant by open vascular bundle?
Ans: An open vascular bundle contains cambium between xylem and phloem, allowing secondary growth.

Q28. Name the hypodermis tissue in dicot stem.
Ans: Collenchyma forms the hypodermis in dicot stem and provides mechanical support.

Q29. What is endodermis in stem also called?
Ans: Endodermis in stem is also called starch sheath because its cells store starch grains.

Q30. Mention one feature of monocot stem.
Ans: Monocot stems have scattered vascular bundles that are closed and do not show secondary growth.

Q31. Why is secondary growth absent in monocot stem?
Ans: Secondary growth is absent in monocot stems due to absence of vascular cambium.

Q32. What is the function of pith in stem?
Ans: Pith stores food materials and provides internal support to the stem.

Q33. What is pericycle in stem made of?
Ans: In dicot stem, pericycle consists of sclerenchymatous cells that provide mechanical strength.

Q34. Define ground tissue.
Ans: Ground tissue includes all tissues except epidermal and vascular tissues and mainly performs storage and support functions.

Q35. Name the protective tissue of stem.
Ans: Epidermis is the outer protective tissue of stem, covered with a cuticle to reduce water loss.

🍃 Section D: Internal Structure of Leaf & Secondary Growth (Q36–Q50)

Q36. What is a dorsiventral leaf?
Ans: A dorsiventral leaf has distinct upper and lower surfaces and is typically found in dicot plants.

Q37. Name the mesophyll tissues in dicot leaf.
Ans: Mesophyll in dicot leaf is differentiated into palisade parenchyma and spongy parenchyma.

Q38. What is an isobilateral leaf?
Ans: An isobilateral leaf has similar upper and lower surfaces and is commonly found in monocot plants.

Q39. What are bulliform cells?
Ans: Bulliform cells are large, thin-walled epidermal cells in monocot leaves that help in rolling and unrolling of leaves.

Q40. Define secondary growth.
Ans: Secondary growth refers to the increase in girth or thickness of plant organs due to activity of lateral meristems.

Q41. Name the lateral meristems involved in secondary growth.
Ans: Vascular cambium and cork cambium are the lateral meristems responsible for secondary growth.

Q42. What is vascular cambium?
Ans: Vascular cambium is a lateral meristem that produces secondary xylem towards the inside and secondary phloem towards the outside.

Q43. What is cork cambium?
Ans: Cork cambium or phellogen forms cork cells outward and secondary cortex inward, forming the periderm.

Q44. What are annual rings?
Ans: Annual rings are concentric growth rings formed due to seasonal activity of vascular cambium and indicate the age of trees.

Q45. Define sapwood.
Ans: Sapwood is the outer, light-coloured, functional wood involved in conduction of water and minerals.

Q46. Define heartwood.
Ans: Heartwood is the inner, dark-coloured, non-functional wood that provides mechanical strength to the plant.

Q47. What is periderm?
Ans: Periderm is the protective tissue formed during secondary growth, consisting of cork, cork cambium, and secondary cortex.

Q48. Why is heartwood darker than sapwood?
Ans: Heartwood appears darker due to deposition of tannins, resins, oils, and other waste substances.

Q49. Which tissue shows maximum lignification?
Ans: Sclerenchyma shows maximum lignification, making it rigid and mechanically strong.

Q50. Why are labelled diagrams important in this chapter?
Ans: Labelled diagrams help in understanding tissue arrangement and are frequently asked in CBSE exams for scoring marks.