Question

Which one of the following is an endangered species?
A. Azadirachta indica
B. Rosa indica
C. Rauwolfia serpentina
D. Mangifera indica

Answer 1

Hint: Endangered species are the species that are at the threat of extinction. They are likely to become extinct in the near future either worldwide or in a particular ecological region. The given options are some species of plants.

Complete answer:
Option A: Azadirachta indica are commonly known as neem. They are herbal trees which grow in the tropical and subtropical region. They belong to the Mahogany family. Neem is abundantly found in its native land which is the Indian subcontinent. Neem is highly drought-resistant and thrives in different types of soils. They can also tolerate a wide range of temperatures. They are not at the threat of extinction. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.

Option B: Rosa Indica is the scientific name of the garden rose. It is a perennial flowering plant with attractive and fragrant flowers which makes it the most common garden plant. There are hundreds of species of rosa and they are available in a variety of colors. Rosa Indica flowers are in red, yellow, or white color. They have sharp prickles on their stem which provides protection from predators. They can vegetatively propagate easily. They are not under threat of extinction. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.

Option C: Rauwolfia serpentina is commonly known as Indian snakeroot or devil pepper. They are a type of shrubs that are perennial and native in the Indian subcontinent. Indian snakeroot is a source of a phytochemical known as reserpine. Reserpine is found to be beneficial in the treatment of systolic hypertension. The collection of Rauwolfia serpentina for medicinal uses has reduced their population. Therefore they are likely to be declined further and become extinct. Therefore this is the correct answer.

Option D: Mangifera indica is Mango. They are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. They are large trees that can grow up to an average height of 30 meters. Mango fruits are sweet and abundant all across the Indian subcontinent. Mango propagates through their seed and trees are found very commonly. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C)

Note: Indian snakeroot is used in Ayurveda medicine. In addition to hypertension, they are also used in the treatment for some mental illnesses such as hallucination, insomnia, and can cause side effects like anxiety. Many of the medicinal plants are under threat of extinction because of their pharmaceutical use.