Question

What are monocarpic and polycarpic plants?

Answer 1

Hint: Monocarpic and polycarpic plants are those plants that are distinguished on the basis of flowering period and seed formation. Monocarpic and polycarpic are both flowering plants. The term monocarpic was first used by Alphonse de Candolle. Polycarpic is the antonym of monocarpic.

Complete answer: 1.Monocarpic plants are the type of flowering plant that develop seeds and flowers once in their lifespan. Most of these are annual plants (plants that start their life span from seed to flower to again seed in one season). After a year, the stem, roots, and leaves of the plant die.
2.Polycarpic plants are the type of flowering plant that develops fruits and flowers several times. These plants are perennial (having a life cycle of more than two years). These plants survive for many years.
3.Some of the differences between these two types of the flowering plant are:

Monocarpic	Polycarpic
Flower once in their lifecycle	Flower every year during the season
Most are annual or biennial	They are perennial
These plants die after flowering and fruiting	These plants do not die after flowering and fruiting
Examples: wheat, rice, carrot, etc.	Examples: orange, mango, apple, etc.

4.Some of the similarities between these two flowering plants are:
a) Production of seed and flower.
b) Production of flowers for sexual reproduction.

Note:Monocarpic plants are those plants that produce seeds and flowers once in their lifetime, after the fruiting and flowering the plants die. Polycarpic plants are those plants that flower every year in a particular season, they do not die after flowering and fruiting.