Part 3 — Inflorescence & Flower Structure (Questions 51–75)
Part 3 — Inflorescence & Flower Structure (Questions 51–75)
Q51. Inflorescence refers to:
A) Arrangement of flowers on an axis (rachis) that can be racemose (indeterminate) or cymose (determinate) and many modified forms
B) Type of root system
C) Fruit anatomy only
D) Leaf venation
Answer: A
Explanation:
A) Correct.
B/C/D) Not related.
Q52. A racemose inflorescence is characterized by:
A) Terminal flower opening first leading to determinate growth
B) Indeterminate growth where the youngest flowers are at the apex and older ones at the base (e.g., raceme, spike, panicle)
C) Flowers in pairs only
D) No floral axis
Answer: B
Explanation:
A) Describes cymose (determinate).
B) Correct.
C/D) Not definition.
Q53. Cymose inflorescence is:
A) Indeterminate with lateral flowers opening first
B) Determinate with terminal flower opening first and growth ceasing at the tip (e.g., dichasium, monochasium)
C) Always a single flower only
D) Root structure
Answer: B
Explanation:
A) Indeterminate = racemose.
B) Correct.
C/D) Incorrect.
Q54. A capitulum is a type of inflorescence typical of:
A) Fabaceae
B) Asteraceae (composite family) where many small flowers (florets) are arranged on a common receptacle (e.g., sunflower, daisy)
C) Grasses (Poaceae)
D) Orchids
Answer: B
Explanation:
A/C/D) Different families/forms.
B) Correct.
Q55. Pedicel is:
A) The individual flower stalk in an inflorescence
B) The stem between two nodes of the main stem (internode)
C) The floral axis bearing many flowers
D) The ovary wall
Answer: A
Explanation:
A) Correct.
B) Internode is not pedicel.
C) Receptacle/rachis.
D) Ovary wall = pericarp later.
Q56. A bisexual or perfect flower contains:
A) Only male reproductive organs
B) Both stamens (androecium) and carpels (gynoecium) present in the same flower
C) Only female reproductive organs
D) No reproductive organs
Answer: B
Explanation:
A/C/D) Incomplete.
B) Correct.
Q57. Unisexual flowers are termed:
A) Monoecious if both male and female flowers occur on same plant (e.g., maize — separate male tassel and female ear) or dioecious if on separate plants (e.g., papaya)
B) Bisexual only
C) Perfect flowers only
D) Always sterile
Answer: A
Explanation:
A) Correct — monoecious/dioecious distinction.
B/C/D) Wrong.
Q58. Androecium refers to:
A) Female parts of flower
B) Male reproductive parts (stamens) collectively
C) Perianth only
D) Root structure
Answer: B
Explanation:
A) Gynoecium.
B) Correct.
C/D) Not applicable.
Q59. Gynoecium composed of one or more carpels; the fused carpels forming a single pistil is called:
A) Apocarpous (when carpels free)
B) Syncarpous (when carpels fused to form compound pistil)
C) Androecious only
D) Hypogynous only
Answer: B
Explanation:
A) Apocarpous = separate carpels.
B) Correct — syncarpous pistil.
C/D) Terms unrelated to carpels fusion.
Q60. In hypogynous flower, the position of ovary is:
A) Superior (above the attachment of other floral parts) — e.g., mustard; floral parts inserted below ovary
B) Inferior always
C) Half inferior (perigynous) only
D) Absent
Answer: A
Explanation:
A) Correct.
B/C) Other conditions.
D) Not true.
Q61. Fusion of similar floral whorls (petals with petals) is called:
A) Adnation
B) Connation — fusion of organs of same whorl (e.g., petals connate forming corolla tube)
C) Gynostegium
D) Heterostyly
Answer: B
Explanation:
A) Adnation = fusion of different whorls.
B) Correct.
C/D) Other terms.
Q62. A zygomorphic flower is:
A) Radially symmetrical (actinomorphic)
B) Bilaterally symmetrical with a single plane of symmetry (e.g., pea, orchid)
C) Asymmetrical always
D) A type of inflorescence
Answer: B
Explanation:
A) Actinomorphic.
B) Correct.
C/D) Not definition.
Q63. Connation of stamens would mean:
A) Stamens fused to petals (adnation)
B) Stamens fused with each other forming a tube (e.g., staminal tube of Malvaceae) — connation is fusion among similar organs
C) Stamens absent
D) Anther dehiscence only
Answer: B
Explanation:
A) Adnation.
B) Correct.
C/D) Incorrect.
Q64. Epipetalous stamens are:
A) Attached to petals (adnation of stamen and petal) as seen in Solanaceae and many others
B) Free from petals and sepals always
C) Fused to carpels only
D) Non-existent
Answer: A
Explanation:
A) Correct.
B/C/D) Not accurate.
Q65. The ovary that is partly inferior is called:
A) Hypogynous
B) Perigynous (ovary half-inferior with floral parts on a cup-like hypanthium)
C) Epigynous
D) None
Answer: B
Explanation:
A) Hypogynous = superior.
B) Correct.
C) Epigynous = inferior.
D) Not applicable.
Q66. Placenta is the part of ovary to which ovules are attached. Axile placentation is characterized by:
A) Ovules attached to the central axis in a multicarpellary syncarpous ovary (chlambers separated by septa)
B) Ovules attached to the ovary wall only
C) Ovules attached to a marginal ridge only
D) No ovules present
Answer: A
Explanation:
A) Correct — axile placentation typical of tomato, china rose.
B) Parietal placentation.
C) Marginal placentation in legumes.
D) Not common.
Q67. A polypetalous corolla indicates:
A) Petals fused into a tube
B) Petals free and separate
C) No petals present
D) Petals joined with stamens
Answer: B
Explanation:
A) Sympetalous/connate petals.
B) Correct — polypetalous = free petals.
C/D) Different.
Q68. Perianth that cannot be differentiated into calyx and corolla (petaloid or sepaloid) is called:
A) Calyx-corolla union
B) Tepals as in Liliaceae and many monocots where segments are similar (perianth segments termed tepals)
C) Corolla only
D) None
Answer: B
Explanation:
A/C/D) Not proper.
B) Correct — tepaloid perianth.
Q69. Androecium with a single stamen is described as:
A) Monadelphous
B) Monandrous (single stamen) — monandrous flowers have one stamen only
C) Polyandrous
D) Diadelphous
Answer: B
Explanation:
A) Monadelphous = stamens fused by filaments into one group.
B) Correct.
C/D) Other arrangements.
Q70. Anemophily refers to pollination by:
A) Insects
B) Birds
C) Wind — anemophilous plants have small, inconspicuous flowers with abundant lightweight pollen (e.g., grasses, many trees)
D) Water
Answer: C
Explanation:
A/B/D) Other modes: entomophily, ornithophily, hydrophily.
C) Correct.
Q71. Entomophilous flowers generally possess:
A) Bright colors, nectar guides, scent and rewards to attract insect pollinators
B) No scent and tiny inconspicuous flowers only
C) Underwater flowers only
D) Wind-dispersed pollen only
Answer: A
Explanation:
A) Correct — adaptations for insect pollination.
B/C/D) Not typical.
Q72. The structure that develops into the seed after fertilization is:
A) Ovary wall only
B) Ovule (integuments become seed coat; embryo develops from zygote; endosperm forms nutritive tissue)
C) Stigma
D) Petal
Answer: B
Explanation:
A) Ovary wall becomes fruit, not seed.
B) Correct.
C/D) Not seed-origin.
Q73. The part of the stamen that contains pollen grains is the:
A) Filament only
B) Anther (contains pollen sacs/microsporangia where pollen develops)
C) Pedicel
D) Petal
Answer: B
Explanation:
A) Filament supports anther.
B) Correct.
C/D) Not related.
Q74. The receptive part of the pistil for pollen germination is:
A) Ovule
B) Stigma (sticky or feathery surface to capture pollen)
C) Style base only
D) Sepal
Answer: B
Explanation:
A) Ovule receives pollen tube after germination but stigma is initial reception.
B) Correct.
C/D) Not proper.
Q75. The floral formula gives concise information about flower structure. Which of the following symbols indicates fusion of like floral parts?
A) Parentheses ( ) or connation indicated by parentheses in formula (e.g., C(5) for fused petals)
B) Square brackets [ ] only
C) Slash / only
D) None
Answer: A
Explanation:
A) Correct — parentheses denote connation; adnation uses different notation.
B/C/D) Not standard.