Question

The source of turpentine oil is
(a) Fern
(b) Sunflower
(c) Pinus
(d) Moss plant

Answer 1

Hint: The plant which is used to extract turpentine oil is a gymnosperm. This plant has an obligate association with the mycorrhizae and its seeds cannot germinate and establish in their absence. Its stem is branched.

Complete answer:
The turpentine oil is produced from the Pinus plant. There are a variety of uses of Gymnosperm trees especially for timber used in construction, obtaining resins as well as in paper manufacturing. Many Gymnosperm trees also possess medicinal properties and yield essential oils.
Some important uses of gymnosperms are:
- The stem of genus Cycas is a source of Sago which is consumed as food. Also, Cycas plants have ornamental uses. The leaves of many Cycas plants are used in making brooms, hats, baskets.
- Conifers such as Pinus australis, P. caribaea are excellent producers of resins. These resins are used in various industries such as varnishes, plasters and enamel paint because they are resistant to decay.
- Various species of these plants also produce aromatic oils and essential oils. Picea glauca and Tsuga canadensis are a source of oil of hemlock which is used as room spray and deodorant.
- The male or female cones or strobili in pinus may be borne on the same tree.

So, the correct answer is pinus.

Note:
 - The gymnosperms are heterosporous; they produce haploid microspores and megaspores.
- Both kinds of spores are produced within sporangia. Sporangia are borne on sporophylls.
- These sporangia are arranged spirally along an axis to form compact ‘strobili’ or ‘cones’.