Question

Name the plant, the leaves of which are economically important and earner of foreign exchange for India.
A. Lactuca sativa
B. Coffea Arabica
C. Camellia sinensis
D. Piper nigrum

Answer 1

Hint: It is an evergreen shrub species or a small tree, whose leaves and buds are used to make tea. It is of the Camellia genus of the Theaceae family.

Complete Answer:
- In the lives of people, plants are extremely important. People rely on plants to meet basic human needs such as food, clothing, shelter and health care. These needs are increasing rapidly because of the world's growing population, growing wages and urbanization. Plants, of course, provide food and feed livestock directly, which are then eaten.
- Furthermore, several types of medications, as well as tobacco, coffee, alcohol, and other drugs are supplied with raw materials by plants. The fibre sector is heavily dependent on cotton products, and the wood industry relies on wood from a wide range of trees (wood fuel is mainly used in rural areas).
- Roughly 2.5 billion people worldwide are still dependent on subsistence agriculture to satisfy their essential needs, while other people are linked to more and more complex production and distribution systems to provide, fibre, fuel and other commodities derived from plants.
- Camellia sinensis is an evergreen shrub species or a small tree, which buds and leaves are used to make tea. It is of the Camellia genus of the Theaceae family. "Tea plant," "tea shrub," and "tea tree" are common names.
- Originally, tea is indigenous to the Northern and Eastern parts of India, but the tea industry has spread and developed enormously over the years, making India the largest manufacturer and grower of tea in the world. India is the world leader in consumption, export and tea production. It represents 31% of global tea production.

Thus, the correct answer is option C. i.e., Camellia sinensis.

Note: The economic value of plants is determined by markets where people sell and buy products and services. The value depends on the advantages and expected uses. The economic value of plants is calculated by their prices in a market economy. The price is dictated by demand and supply. Markets operate freely in most countries, with little direct government trade interference.