Question

Cruciform corolla is characterized by
A. Five fused petals
B. Five free sessile petals
C. Four diagonally placed clawed petals
D. Four medially and laterally placed clawed petals

Answer 1

Hint: It tends to occur when all the petals are free which directly means they are polypetalous and the arrangement is diagonal.

Complete Answer:
- In the first option it is given that five fused petals are present which means that the condition is pentamerous marking it a wrong answer to the question.
- In the case of the second option it is given that five free sessile petals are present and this occurs in rose as well as hibiscus and the condition is called as in rosaceous corolla.
- When there is the presence of four diagonally placed clawed petals then the condition is called as the cruciform corolla and it occurs in many flowers such as in Brassica.
- If there is presence of five medially & laterally placed clawed petals then the condition is referred to as caryophyllaceous corolla.

So the correct option is C is correct as the cruciform corolla has the feature of four diagonally placed clawed petals.

Note: Corolla is the whole whorl which is within the sepals and helps the flower to enclose all the reproductive organs.