Question

A monocot showing reticulate venation is
a. Zea
b. Plum
c. Bambusa
d. Smilax

Answer 1

Hint: The condition of vein formation on the leaf is known as venation. This monocot being an exception along with Colocasia includes irregular vein distribution to form a network or web-like structure.

Complete answer:
> Option A is incorrect. This maize plant is typical of monocot leaves with their distinctive parallel venation where veins (or nerves) are arranged all over the leaf blade or lamina parallel to one another.

> Option B is incorrect. The characteristic feature of monocot plants is parallel venation. Here the veins stretch from base to apex of the leaf parallel to each other. Examples of parallel venation plants include wheat, banana, plum, and Zea (maize).

> Option C is incorrect. Some more or less similarly large veins continue from the base of the leaf and converge towards the apex of the leaf. For example, grasses, bamboo (Bambusa), wheat.

> Option D is correct. Smilax is a monocotyledonous plant that exhibits reticulate venation rather than parallel venation. Dicotyledonous plants feature reticulate venation.

So, the correct answer is Option D.

Additional information:
Parallel venation can be described as the veins showing parallel arrangement across the leaf blade or lamina, while the veins show network or web-like arrangement throughout the leaf blade or lamina in reticulate venation. The positioning of the veins is parallel to one another in parallel venation, but in reticulate venation, the veins create a similar network or structure to the web- like. Monocot plants such as banana, bamboo, wheat, maize, etc., are seen in parallel venation. Reticulate venation is observed in plants such as Mango, Hibiscus, Ficus, etc.

Note: Parallel and reticulate venation are characteristic of monocot and dicot leaves, respectively. Monocots such as Smilax and Colocasia, however, do have exceptions. They show venation in the reticulate.