Question

The fruit of lotus is
(A) Etaerio of achenes
(B) Etaerio of berries
(C) Etaerio of follicles
(D) Etaerio of drupes

Answer 1

Hint: Fruits are a characteristic feature of flowering plants. They carry the seeds of the plant and disperse it through external agents or by itself. Lotus is an aquatic plant growing on the surface of delta areas and slow moving rivers.

Complete answer:
Nelumbo nucifera is the scientific name of lotus. They are also called sacred lotus, bean of India or Indian lotus and are native to South Asia. The plant has its root planted in the soil while the leaves and flowers float on the water surface. They can grow in water with a depth from 30 to 250 cm. They grow well during summers. However, during winters when there is less light available, they attain a state of dormancy. Lotus has a wide range of economic and commercial value as their tubers, flowers and seeds are used for ornamental purpose and human consumption.
Now let us look at the fruit part of lotus. The fruits in lotus belong to aggregate fruit or etaerio. A simple fruit forms from a single ovary. However, in aggregate fruits, many ovaries separately present in the same flower merge together forming a fruit. The aggregate fruits are further divided five groups:
Etaerio of achenes – These are monocarpellate and indehiscent. They contain a single seed in their pericarp. The achenes are hairy and are usually mistaken as seeds because of their seed-like appearance. Example: strawberry, lotus, rose.
Etaerio of berries – An example of this type is custard apple (Annona squamosa). They appear in a bunch with fleshy berries crowded together on the thalamus. A common rind is formed in the middle by the apices of the berries.
Etaerio of follicles – These are dry unilocular fruits with two or more seeds formed from a carpel. They break open at the time of maturity making them dehiscent. Example: hellebore, aconite.
Etaerio of drupes – Many small individual drupes may aggregate together to form this type. They are indehiscent. Example: raspberry.
Etaerio of samaras – They are winged achenes with flattened fibrous wings, which enables them to be carried by wind for pollination. They are indehiscent. Example: Acer circinatum.

Thus, the fruit of lotus is (A) Etaerio of achenes.

Note:
The lotus plant drops numerous seeds every year in the water, which settles down at the bottom. Few of these seeds survive and germinate while animals eat many. The rest of the seeds remain dormant as the pond dries out. They germinate again during flooding after they rehydrate. They can remain dormant for many years until favourable conditions appear.