Question

Climbing roots are found in
(a) Banyan
(b) Pandanus
(c) Piper
(d) Sugarcane

Answer 1

Hint: As the name suggests, these roots are found in the plants with climbing habits i.e. the plants that climb on the structures lying nearby and provide mechanical support to the plant. They are helpful in absorption and support.

Complete answer:
Some plants climb on the nearby structures with the help of some specialized roots or stems. These plants are called climbers and the modified root that helps them in climbing is called climbing root. These roots are adventitious roots that are modified to provide mechanical support to the plant. These roots are non-absorptive. Here are a few examples of the plants that are climbers and have climbing roots –
Betel or Piper betle – In these plants, the climbing roots arise from the nodes present in stems. The climbing root of a betel plant has been shown below.
Climbing fig or Ficus Pumila – In these plants, the climbing roots arise at internodes in the stems.
Ivy or Hedera – In these plants, climbing roots arise from both the nodes and internodes. Here, there is a secretion of some sticky substance at the tip of roots that helps plants in sticking on the objects.

Additional information:
-Epiphytic roots absorb water, present in the form of moisture, and from the air with the help of velamen present in them.
-Epiphytic roots are of various types, they are:
      a) Climbing roots – they develop on those plants which have weak stems and require support for climbing. These roots are found above the ground, thus called aerial roots.
      b) Prop roots – they develop from the upper part of the stem and grow down into the soil for the plant to stand erect.
      c) Hanging roots – they are the water-absorbing roots having special tissue called velamen. The velamen helps in the absorption of moisture and is spongy in nature.

So, the correct answer is ‘Piper’.

Note:
Prop roots are found in the Banyan that are also the modifications of the adventitious roots for mechanical support. Prop roots are also called pillar roots and are hygroscopic. In sugarcane, the roots that we see at the basal nodes of the stem are called stilt roots and these are also modified adventitious roots for mechanical support.