Question

Please state if True or False: B represents reticulate venation.

(a) True
(b) False

Answer 1

Hint: The term reticulate refers to the net or web-like appearance on a surface and venation refers to a pattern of veins. As we see in the figures, figure A has a network of veins on the surface while figure B shows a pattern of parallel veins.

Complete answer:
- Figure A shows a reticulate venation while figure B shows parallel venation.
- The vascular tissue in every leaf forms veins. The arrangement of veins on the leaf is called the venation pattern.
- In reticulate venation, the lateral veins in the lamina of the leaf divide and redivide to form veinlets, forming a net like appearance.
- In parallel venation, the veins and veinlets run parallel to each other in straight lines without converging.
- Apart from the transport of water and nutrients, venation also provides mechanical support, protection, coordination in the development of the plants.

Additional Information:
- Reticulate venation is a feature of dicot plants, for eg., ficus, while parallel venation is a feature of monocot plants, like grass.
- The veins are composed of xylem and phloem, enclosed in the parenchyma, sclerenchyma and bounded by the sheath cells.
- Both reticulate and parallel venation are of two types: pinnate parallel venation where one main midvein is present and palmate parallel venation where multiple mid veins are present..
So, the statement is ‘(b) False’.

Note:
- Leaves of Ginkgo biloba show dichotomous venation. The veins are forked and each vein divides at intervals into smaller veins of approximately equal size.
- Venation is generally a feature of angiosperms.