Question

Which one is not a petrocrop?
A. Euphorbia Lathyrus
B. Calotropis Procera
C. Jatropha
D. Hardwickia binata

Answer 1

Hint: The latex of these plants contains some long-chain hydrocarbons that can serve as an alternative to petroleum and can be used as biofuels.

Complete answer:
Hardwickia binata is not a petrocorp. Hardwickia binata is also known with the Hindi name “Anjan” and is a deciduous ornamental tree. It is an Indian native plant with graceful and drooping slender branches. The bark is almost silvery-white in appearance and smooth. The color of bark changes with the age of the tree and as the tree gets older it becomes dark grey and relatively rough bearing irregular vertical cracks. The flowers of this tree are small and pale yellowish with a slight tint of green. The tree belongs to the family Caesalpiniaceae which is known as the Gulmohar family.
In nature, there are some plants that convert photosynthetic products into latex. High molecular weight long-chain hydrocarbons are found in the latex of such plants. The latex is capable of being converted into high-grade biofuel that can be used as a substitute to petroleum-based fuels like petrol and diesel. Plants with such latex properties are called petro plants and their crop is petrocrop. Examples of such plants are – Euphoria lathyrus, Calotropis procera, Jatropha, Pedilanthus tithymaloides, etc.

Note: Though some petro plants belong to other plant families too, the family Euphorbiaceae is considered to be the most common family of plants containing petroplants. There is also a possibility with the plants of this family that their genetic material can be manipulated by genetic engineering techniques in order to increase the amount of hydrocarbon content in their latex.