Question

What is true about foliage of Cycas?
A) Palmate and pinnate foliate leaves
B) Brown scales and pinnate green foliage leaves
C) Oblong and long leaves
D) Green and scaly leaves

Answer 1

Hint: Leaves are the most crucial part of a plant's body. With the adaptations and the life cycle, different plants show different patterns in foliage patterns.

Complete answer:
The gymnosperms (gymnos = naked, sperma = seed) and plants in which the ovule are not enclosed by any ovary wall and remain exposed, both before and after fertilization.
Study of Gymnosperm known as Gymnospermology.
Main plant body of Gymnosperm is divided into Root, Stem and leaves. The roots are generally tap roots. Note : - Roots in some genera have fungal association in the form of mycorrhiza (Pinus), while in some others (Cycas) small specialized roots called coralloid roots are associated with N2 -fixing cyanobacteria. In Cycas roots are of two types i.e. tap root and coralloid roots.
The stems are unbranched (Cycas) or branched (Pinus, Cedrus).
The leaves may be simple or compound. In Cycas the pinnate leaves persist for a few years. The leaves in gymnosperms are well-adapted to extreme conditions like temperature, humidity and wind. The persistent leaves are brown and scaly.

Thus the correct option is (b) Brown scales and pinnate green foliage leaves.

Additional Information: Gymnosperm & Angiosperm are collectively included under spermatophyta i.e. seed bearing plants.
 Gymnosperms are naked seeded plants i.e. no fruit formation takes place in these plants. In gymnosperm embryo & seed formation takes place but no fruit formation occurs.
Gymnosperms are very limited in distribution. They are mainly found in cold regions.In India Gymnosperms are found on Himaliayan mountains. They usually occur on slopes of mountains in cold regions therefore gymnosperms are xerophyte.
All gymnosperms are vascular plants. Therefore vascular tissue presents i.e. xylem & phloem. Xylem lacks vessels & phloem lacks companion cells.

Note: Exceptionally in xylem of Gnetum, Ephedra, Welwitschia true vessels are present. Secondary growth takes place in gymnosperms stem, so Gymnosperms stem is woody. Most of the gymnosperms are arborescent (woody) and tree habit - but some are present as shrub. eg. Ephedra Some Gymnosperm are liana or woody climbers. eg. Gnetum.
In conifers the needle-like leaves reduce the surface area, their thick cuticle and sunken stomata also help to reduce water loss.