Question

Brownish branches coming down from crown of banyan tree and reaching the soil are
A. Prop roots
B. Stilt roots
C. Additional trunk
D. Pillar branches

Answer 1

Hint: The roots are the organs of a plant that lie below the surface of the soil. Roots can also be aerial i.e., growing up above the ground or especially above water.

Complete answer:
The roots are present in all vascular plants. The roots are non-leaf,
Non-nodes bearing parts of the plant body.

Functions of roots are:
1. It is involved in absorption of water and minerals.
2. It supports the plant body.
3. Roots stores the food and nutrients.
4. It is involved in vegetative reproduction.

Prop roots: Prop roots are also known as pillar roots. These roots are the types of adventitious
Roots that develops from the large horizontal branches of the trees and hang downwards and
enters the soil. Prop roots gave pillar-like appearance. Examples of these roots are Ficus
benghalensis (Banyan tree), Rubber plant, Corn etc.

Stilt roots: These roots are the type of aerial adventitious roots that help in supporting the plant
body. These roots grow obliquely downwards from basal nodes of the main stem. Examples are maize and red mangrove.

So the correct answer is option A.

Note: From the above question we know that prop roots are a modified root that arises from the stem of certain plants and provide extra support and the roots of most vascular plant species enter into symbiosis with certain fungi and forms mycorrhizae.