Question

Monocarpic perennial plant is
(a) Maize
(b) Brassica
(c) Bambusa
(d) Mango

Answer 1

Hint: This plant flowers once in 50- 100 years, and dies after producing a large number of flowers. It belongs to the family Poaceae or grass family.

Complete answer:
In Monocarpic plants, flowering and seed formation occur only once in their lifetime, whereas in polycarpic plants flowering and seed formation occurs every year after achieving reproductive maturity. Examples of monocarpic plants include bamboo, wheat, rice, banana, etc. Examples of polycarpic plants include mango, apple, etc. Both these monocarpic and polycarpic plants belong under angiosperms as flower and fruit formation occurs in angiosperms only.
General features of angiosperms are:
- The main body of the plant is sporophytic and has distinct roots, stems, and leaves.
- The presence of xylem vessels and companion cells is seen in angiosperms.
- Secondary growth is seen in dicots.
- Hard, porous, manoxylic wood is found.
- Flowers are seen in angiosperms and sex organs are present within floral whorls
- Ovules are enclosed within an ovary.
- A unique characteristic of angiosperms is double fertilization, which includes syngamy and triple fusion.
- The triploid endosperm is formed after triple fusion.
- After fertilization ovules get converted to seeds and ovaries get converted to fruits.
- No gametophytic generation is seen in seeds.
So, the correct answer is,” Monocarpic perennial plants are Bambusa or bamboo.”

Note: Even though angiosperm plants are the most advanced, still some exceptions are present. Some angiosperms are rootless, examples include Utricularia, Ceratophyllum, and Myriophyllum. Some angiosperms are also parasitic, they may be total or partial root parasites and total or partial stem parasites. Rafflesia arnoldi is the largest flower and also a total root parasite. It is known as the queen of parasites.