Question

Who among the following was a paleobotanist?
A. Maheshwari
B. S.R.Kashyap
C. Birbal Sahni
D. V. Puri

Answer 1

Hint: The scientist we are talking about is also referred to as paleobotanist and paleobotanist is the one who deals with the study of plant fossils and identification of the plant remains. It also includes the study of the evolutionary history of plants. The subject includes the study of both terrestrial plants and prehistoric marine algae and weeds which are preservable.

Complete answer:
Paleobotany is fundamental to study the development and evolution of green plants. A plant fossil is any part of the plant which is preserved and the plant has died since long enough. These are preserved in the form of impressions. Plant fossils can preserve in a number of ways like compressions- impressions moulds and casts, petrifactions, fusains, etc. Some plants remain almost unchanged and that plant is completely extinct. Examples are- Araucaria mirabilis, Glossopteris, etc. Paleobotany includes the study of both terrestrial plants and prehistoric marine algae and weeds. Paleobotany helps to solve mysteries related to earth formation and evolution. Due to some difficulties, paleobotanists assign different taxonomic names to different plant parts as – Annularia (compression of a cone), Calamites (impression of the stem), etc.
Hence, the correct answer is option C, i.e. Birbal Sahni.

Note: Mainly fossils were obtained from large and woody plants because these can be preserved well by sedimentation and other natural processes because of the hard body parts. The fossils of small and soft body parts plants were not identified much because soft parts decomposed easily and cannot be preserved.