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Morphology of Flowering Plants

NCERT Class 11 · Biology Based on NCERT Class 11 Biology textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter describes the external structure (morphology) of angiosperms, covering root, stem, leaf, inflorescence, flower, fruit and seed. It establishes standard technical terms needed for classification and understanding adaptations. The single big idea is that every part of a flowering plant exhibits distinct morphological features and modifications that reflect its function and evolutionary adaptation.
Key Concepts (24)
Tap root system
Primary root formed by direct elongation of the radicle, bearing lateral roots of several orders (secondary, tertiary, etc.) as in dicotyledonous plants.
e.g. Mustard plant (sarso)
Fibrous root system
Root system where the primary root is short-lived and is replaced by a large number of roots originating from the base of the stem, characteristic of monocotyledonous plants.
e.g. Wheat plant (gehu)
Adventitious roots
Roots that arise from parts of the plant other than the radicle, e.g., from stem or leaves.
e.g. Banyan tree (bargad) hanging roots, grass
Root cap
A thimble-like structure covering the root apex, protecting the tender apex as it pushes through the soil.
e.g. Clearly visible in germinating gram seeds
Region of meristematic activity
Region a few millimetres above the root cap where cells are small, thin-walled, with dense protoplasm and divide repeatedly.
e.g. Observed in onion root tip slides in lab
Region of maturation
Proximal zone to the region of elongation where cells differentiate and mature, and some epidermal cells form root hairs absorb water and minerals.
e.g. Commonly seen in radish seedlings
Node and internode
Node is the region of the stem where leaves are borne; internode is the portion between two nodes.
e.g. Sugarcane (ganna) clearly shows nodes and internodes
Venation
The arrangement of veins and veinlets in the leaf lamina. Reticulate venation (network) is typical of dicots; parallel venation is characteristic of monocots.
e.g. Mango leaf (reticulate), banana leaf (parallel)
Phyllotaxy
The pattern of arrangement of leaves on the stem or branch, of three types: alternate (single leaf per node), opposite (a pair per node), whorled (more than two at a node).
e.g. China rose (alternate), guava (opposite), Alstonia (whorled)
Inflorescence
The arrangement of flowers on the floral axis. Racemose: main axis continues to grow, flowers borne laterally in acropetal succession. Cymose: main axis terminates in a flower, flowers in basipetal order.
e.g. Mustard (racemose), jasmine (cymose)
Actinomorphic flower
A flower that can be divided into two equal radial halves in any radial plane passing through the centre, i.e., radial symmetry.
e.g. Mustard, datura, chilli
Zygomorphic flower
A flower that can be divided into two similar halves only in one particular vertical plane, i.e., bilateral symmetry.
e.g. Pea, gulmohur, bean
Hypogynous flower
Flower in which the gynoecium occupies the highest position on the thalamus and other whorls are below it; ovary is said to be superior.
e.g. Mustard, china rose (hibiscus), brinjal
Epigynous flower
Flower in which the thalamus margin grows upward enclosing the ovary completely and fusing with it, so the other floral parts appear to arise above the ovary; ovary inferior.
e.g. Guava, cucumber, ray florets of sunflower
Aestivation
The mode of arrangement of sepals or petals in a floral bud with respect to other members of the same whorl. Types: valvate, twisted, imbricate, vexillary.
e.g. Calotropis (valvate), cotton (twisted), Cassia (imbricate), pea (vexillary)
Monadelphous stamens
Stamens united into one bundle, as seen in china rose.
e.g. China rose (gudhal)
Diadelphous stamens
Stamens united into two bundles, as in pea.
e.g. Pea (matar)
Apocarpous ovary
Gynoecium with free carpels, as in lotus and rose.
e.g. Lotus (kamal), rose (gulab)
Syncarpous ovary
Gynoecium with fused carpels, as in mustard and tomato.
e.g. Mustard (sarso), tomato (tamatar)
Placentation
The arrangement of ovules within the ovary. Main types: marginal (pea), axile (china rose, tomato), parietal (mustard, Argemone), free central (Dianthus, Primrose), basal (sunflower, marigold).
e.g. Pea (marginal), sunflower (basal)
Drupe fruit
A fruit developing from a monocarpellary superior ovary, usually one-seeded, with a pericarp differentiated into outer epicarp, middle mesocarp and inner stony endocarp, as in mango and coconut.
e.g. Mango (aam), coconut (nariyal)
Endospermic seed
Seed in which endosperm persists as a food-storing tissue at maturity, e.g., castor, maize.
e.g. Castor (arandi), maize (makka)
Coleoptile and coleorhiza
In monocot seeds like maize, the plumule is enclosed in a protective sheath called coleoptile and the radicle in coleorhiza.
e.g. Maize seed section
Solanaceae family
Commonly potato family. Vegetative: herbs or shrubs, alternate simple leaves, reticulate venation. Floral: bisexual, actinomorphic, 5 united sepals (valvate), 5 united petals (valvate), 5 epipetalous stamens, bicarpellary syncarpous superior ovary with axile placentation. Fruit berry or capsule. Floral formula: ⚥ ⚶ K(5) C(5) A(5) G(2).
e.g. Tomato, brinjal, chilli, petunia
How It Works
Formation of root systems
  1. In dicotyledonous plants, the radicle elongates directly to form a primary root that grows into the soil.
  2. The primary root produces lateral branches (secondary and tertiary roots), forming a tap root system.
  3. In monocotyledonous plants, the primary root is short-lived and is replaced by many roots that originate from the base of the stem, forming a fibrous root system.
  4. In some plants, roots arise from parts other than the radicle, called adventitious roots.
💡 Monocots do not have a persistent tap root; their fibrous roots originate from the stem base, not directly from the radicle.
Regions of the root (from tip upwards)
  1. The apex is covered by a thimble-like root cap that protects the tender root tip as it pushes through the soil.
  2. Just above the root cap is the region of meristematic activity, where small, thin-walled cells with dense protoplasm divide repeatedly.
  3. Proximal to the meristematic region is the region of elongation, where rapid cell elongation and enlargement cause root growth in length.
  4. The cells gradually differentiate and mature in the region of maturation, where epidermal cells produce thread-like root hairs that absorb water and minerals.
💡 Root hairs are formed in the maturation zone, not in the elongation zone; the meristematic zone is just above the root cap, not at the very tip.
Transformation of the shoot apex into a flower
  1. The shoot apical meristem changes to a floral meristem.
  2. Internodes stop elongating and the axis becomes condensed.
  3. The floral apex produces successive whorls of floral appendages (calyx, corolla, androecium, gynoecium) laterally at successive nodes, instead of leaves.
💡 A flower is a modified shoot, not a completely new structure; floral organs are borne laterally on a condensed axis with unelongated internodes.
Determination of inflorescence type
  1. If the shoot tip transforms directly into a solitary flower, the flower appears singly.
  2. If the main axis continues to grow and produces flowers laterally in acropetal succession (younger flowers at the tip), it is a racemose inflorescence.
  3. If the main axis ends in a flower, stopping further growth, and flowers open in basipetal order (older flowers at the tip), it is a cymose inflorescence.
💡 In racemose inflorescence the main axis never ends in a flower; in cymose it terminates in a flower. Acropetal vs basipetal order is a classic exam confusion.
Development of fruit and seed after fertilisation
  1. After fertilisation, the ovules develop into seeds.
  2. The ovary matures and ripens into a fruit.
  3. If a fruit forms without fertilisation of the ovary, it is called a parthenocarpic fruit.
💡 A fruit is the mature ovary, not necessarily sweet or fleshy; parthenocarpic fruits lack seeds because fertilization did not occur.
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Root system of grass
✗ Grass has fibrous root system.
→ According to NCERT Class 11, grass is explicitly listed under adventitious roots, which arise from parts other than the radicle, not as typical fibrous roots that replace the primary root.
✓ In grass, roots are adventitious (arising from the base of the stem).
⚠ Order of flowering in cymose inflorescence
✗ In cymose inflorescence, flowers open in acropetal succession.
→ Cymose has limited growth with the main axis terminating in a flower; the lateral flowers open below the terminal one, i.e., basipetal, not acropetal. Acropetal succession is characteristic of racemose inflorescence.
✓ In cymose inflorescence, flowers are borne in basipetal order.
⚠ Placentation in pea
✗ Pea shows parietal placentation because ovules arise on the inner wall of the ovary.
→ Parietal placentation has ovules on the periphery or inner wall, but pea has a ridge along the ventral suture with ovules in two rows—this is marginal placentation.
✓ Pea exhibits marginal placentation; the placenta forms a ridge along the ventral suture and ovules are borne in two rows.
⚠ Aestivation in pea flower
✗ The aestivation in pea flower is imbricate.
→ Although imbricate means overlapping without a fixed pattern, pea has a specific overlapping sequence: standard petal overlaps wings, wings overlap keel. This is called vexillary (or papilionaceous) aestivation, not ordinary imbricate.
✓ Pea flower shows vexillary (papilionaceous) aestivation, with the largest standard petal overlapping wings, which overlap the two smallest keel petals.
⚠ Mango fruit – hard inner layer
✗ The stony hard layer in mango fruit is the mesocarp.
→ In a drupe like mango, the pericarp is differentiated into outer epicarp, middle fleshy mesocarp, and inner stony endocarp. Therefore, the hard inner layer is endocarp, not mesocarp.
✓ In mango, the inner hard stony layer is the endocarp, the middle fleshy edible part is mesocarp.
Compare & Contrast
Growth pattern and order of flower opening
Racemose inflorescence
Cymose inflorescence
Racemose: main axis grows continuously, flowers are borne laterally in acropetal succession. Cymose: main axis ends in a flower, growth is limited, flowers open in basipetal order.
Fusion of carpels
Apocarpous ovary
Syncarpous ovary
Apocarpous: carpels remain free (e.g., lotus, rose). Syncarpous: carpels are fused (e.g., mustard, tomato).
Arrangement of veins in leaf blade
Reticulate venation
Parallel venation
Reticulate: veinlets form a network, typical of dicot leaves. Parallel: veins run parallel to each other, typical of monocot leaves.
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: 1-mark MCQs/very short answer (definitions, identification), 2-mark short answer (differentiate, draw labelled parts), 3-mark short answer (describe placentation/aestivation/seed structure), 5-mark long answer (floral diagram + formula, semi-technical description with floral characters)
Most asked: Types of inflorescence (racemose and cymose) and floral symmetry · Placentation – types with examples · Aestivation – valvate, twisted, imbricate, vexillary · Floral diagram and floral formula of mustard or Solanaceae · Structure of dicot and monocot seeds · Semi-technical description and family Solanaceae characters
Don't skip: Floral diagram and floral formula with explanation of symbols; Semi-technical description and floral characteristics of Solanaceae; All five types of placentation with labelled diagrams and examples
Safe to skip: The distinct fibrous mesocarp of coconut drupe as a separate exam point can be de-prioritised; while the drupe concept appears, detailed comparison of mango and coconut pericarp is low-weightage.
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. The underground part of the plant is the root system; the aerial part is the shoot system.
  2. Primary root with its lateral branches forms the tap root system (e.g., mustard).
  3. Fibrous root system originates from the stem base, replacing the short-lived primary root (e.g., wheat).
  4. Adventitious roots arise from any part of the plant other than the radicle (e.g., grass, Monstera, banyan tree).
  5. The root tip has four regions: root cap, region of meristematic activity, region of elongation, and region of maturation with root hairs.
  6. Stem bears nodes and internodes, leaves at nodes, and terminal or axillary buds.
  7. Leaf parts: leaf base (may have stipules), petiole, and lamina; pulvinus is a swollen leaf base in some legumes.
  8. Reticulate venation (network of veinlets) is typical of dicots; parallel venation is typical of monocots.
  9. A simple leaf has an undivided lamina or incisions that do not reach the midrib; a compound leaf has incisions reaching the midrib, forming leaflets.
  10. Pinnately compound leaf: leaflets attached on a common axis (rachis), e.g., neem; palmately compound leaf: leaflets attached at the tip of petiole, e.g., silk cotton.
  11. Phyllotaxy: alternate (one leaf per node, e.g., china rose), opposite (two leaves per node, e.g., guava), whorled (more than two leaves per node, e.g., Alstonia).
  12. Inflorescence: racemose—main axis grows indefinitely, acropetal flower opening; cymose—main axis ends in a flower, basipetal opening.
  13. Flower symmetry: actinomorphic (radial) can be divided into equal halves in any radial plane; zygomorphic (bilateral) only in one vertical plane.
  14. Position of ovary: hypogynous (superior ovary, e.g., mustard), perigynous (half-inferior, e.g., rose), epigynous (inferior ovary, e.g., guava, cucumber).
  15. Aestivation: valvate (sepals/petals touch at edges, e.g., Calotropis), twisted (one margin overlaps the next, e.g., cotton), imbricate (irregular overlapping, e.g., Cassia), vexillary (standard overlaps wings, wings overlap keel, e.g., pea).
  16. Androecium consists of stamens with filament and bilobed anther; stamens can be epipetalous (attached to petals) and united as monadelphous, diadelphous, or polyadelphous.
  17. Gynoecium: carpel parts—stigma, style, ovary; apocarpous (free carpels, e.g., lotus) vs. syncarpous (fused carpels, e.g., mustard).
  18. Placentation types: marginal (pea), axile (tomato, china rose), parietal (mustard), free central (Dianthus), basal (sunflower, marigold).
  19. Fruit is a ripened ovary; drupe (mango, coconut) has outer epicarp, fleshy or fibrous mesocarp, and stony endocarp.
  20. Dicot seed: seed coat with testa and tegmen, hilum, micropyle; embryo with two cotyledons, plumule, and radicle; may be endospermic (castor) or non-endospermic (gram, pea).
  21. Monocot seed (maize): seed coat fused with fruit wall, bulky endosperm with aleurone layer, embryo with a single shield-shaped cotyledon (scutellum); plumule enclosed in coleoptile, radicle in coleorhiza.
  22. Floral formula symbols: Br (bracteate), K (calyx), C (corolla), P (perianth), A (androecium), G (gynoecium), ⊕ (actinomorphic), % (zygomorphic), ♂ (male), ♀ (female), ⚥ (bisexual), fusion shown by brackets, adhesion by a line above the symbol.
  23. Family Solanaceae: floral formula ⊕ ⚥ K₍₅₎ C₍₅₎ A₅ G₍₂₎, ovary superior, bicarpellary syncarpous, axile placentation; fruit berry or capsule; includes tomato, potato, chilli, petunia, tobacco.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. Which of the following is NOT a function of the root system?

  • A. Absorption of water and minerals from soil
  • B. Synthesis of plant growth regulators
  • C. Conduction of photosynthates to aerial parts ✓
  • D. Anchorage of the plant in soil

Answer: C — Roots absorb water and minerals but do not conduct photosynthates; that function belongs to the shoot system (stems and leaves).

Q2. The region of the root that is responsible for rapid elongation and growth in length is the:

  • A. Root cap
  • B. Meristematic region
  • C. Elongation region ✓
  • D. Maturation region

Answer: C — The elongation region is proximal to the meristematic zone where cells undergo rapid enlargement, causing the root to grow in length.

Q3. Root hairs are formed from which region of the root?

  • A. Root cap
  • B. Meristematic region
  • C. Elongation region
  • D. Maturation region ✓

Answer: D — Root hairs are fine, delicate structures formed from epidermal cells in the maturation region where cells have differentiated and specialised.

Q4. In monocotyledonous plants, the fibrous root system develops because:

  • A. The radicle elongates into a strong primary root
  • B. The primary root is short-lived and replaced by adventitious roots from the stem base ✓
  • C. The primary root forms many secondary roots that spread horizontally
  • D. The root cap promotes lateral root formation instead of apical growth

Answer: B — In monocots (wheat, rice), the primary root degenerates early and is replaced by numerous adventitious roots originating from the stem base, forming a fibrous root system.

Q5. Which statement about the stem is correct? (A) The stem develops from the radicle of the seed embryo. (B) Leaves are always borne on internodes, not nodes. (C) Terminal buds promote apical growth while axillary buds promote lateral growth. (D) Both (B) and (C) are correct.

  • A. (A) only
  • B. (C) only ✓
  • C. (A) and (B) only
  • D. (B) and (C) only

Answer: B — Statement (C) is correct: terminal buds at the stem apex promote vertical growth, and axillary buds in leaf axils promote lateral branch formation; stems develop from the plumule, not radicle, and leaves are borne at nodes.

Q6. The pulvinus in leguminous plants is a modification of the:

  • A. Petiole that allows leaf folding and movement
  • B. Leaf base that becomes swollen and allows movement ✓
  • C. Lamina that enables shade avoidance
  • D. Stipule that protects young leaves

Answer: B — The pulvinus is a swollen leaf base found in legumes that enables leaf movement in response to stimuli like light and touch.

Q7. Compare the tap root system of mustard with the fibrous root system of wheat. Which of the following statements is NOT correct? (A) Tap root has one main primary root; fibrous root has many roots of similar size. (B) Tap root is found in dicots; fibrous root is found in monocots. (C) Both systems have equal capacity for water and mineral absorption. (D) Adventitious roots cannot occur in tap root systems.

  • A. Statement (C)
  • B. Statement (D)
  • C. Both (C) and (D) ✓
  • D. All statements are correct

Answer: C — Statement (C) is incorrect because fibrous roots, being numerous and shallow, often absorb water more efficiently than tap roots; statement (D) is also incorrect because adventitious roots can occur in some dicots (e.g., sugar cane).

Q8. The petiole of a leaf is structurally flexible and allows the leaf blade to flutter in wind. This adaptation primarily serves to: (A) Increase surface area for light absorption (B) Cool the leaf and bring fresh air to the leaf surface (C) Protect the leaf from herbivores (D) Increase the rigidity of the leaf structure

  • A. (A) and (C)
  • B. (B) only ✓
  • C. (A) and (B)
  • D. (C) and (D)

Answer: B — Flexible petioles allow wind-induced leaf movement, which cools the leaf surface and enhances gas exchange by bringing fresh air to the leaf.

Q9. A student observes that in a dicot plant (mustard), lateral roots arise from the primary root at various points. These lateral roots are called secondary, tertiary, etc. roots because: (A) They are younger in age than the primary root (B) They develop in a sequence branching from the primary root and its branches (C) They penetrate less deeply into the soil than the primary root (D) They are adventitious in origin

  • A. (A) only
  • B. (B) only ✓
  • C. (B) and (C)
  • D. (A), (B), and (C)

Answer: B — Secondary roots branch from the primary root, tertiary roots branch from secondary roots, and so on—they are named by this hierarchical branching sequence, not by age, depth, or origin.

Q10. HOTS: A scientist plants seeds of four different plant species and observes their root development. Species A develops a single deep primary root, Species B develops shallow fibrous roots, Species C produces roots from the stem above ground, and Species D has roots that form swollen structures for storage. Based on the root morphology described, which species is most likely adapted to a deep, dry soil environment, and which would be best suited to shallow, wet marshy soil? (A) Species A for dry soil; Species B for wet soil (B) Species B for dry soil; Species A for wet soil (C) Species C for dry soil; Species D for wet soil (D) Species D for dry soil; Species C for wet soil

  • A. Species A for dry soil; Species B for wet soil ✓
  • B. Species B for dry soil; Species A for wet soil
  • C. Species C for dry soil; Species D for wet soil
  • D. Species D for dry soil; Species C for wet soil

Answer: A — Tap root systems (Species A) penetrate deep to access moisture in dry soils; fibrous roots (Species B) are shallow and efficient in wet, marshy soils where water is readily available near the surface.

Flashcards

What is the root cap and what is its main function?

The root cap is a thimble-like protective structure covering the root apex that shields the tender meristematic tissue as the root grows through soil.

Define the region of meristematic activity in the root.

The meristematic region is located a few millimetres above the root cap and consists of small, thin-walled cells with dense protoplasm that divide repeatedly to produce new cells.

What is the region of elongation and what happens there?

The region of elongation is located proximal to the meristematic zone where cells undergo rapid enlargement and elongation, causing the root to grow in length.

What are root hairs and where are they formed?

Root hairs are fine, delicate, thread-like structures formed from epidermal cells in the region of maturation that absorb water and minerals from the soil.

Distinguish between tap root and fibrous root systems.

Tap root systems have a primary root with lateral branches (dicots like mustard), while fibrous root systems consist of many roots of similar size originating from the stem base (monocots like wheat).

What are adventitious roots and give one example.

Adventitious roots arise from parts of the plant other than the radicle; examples include roots in grass, Monstera, and the banyan tree that grow from stems or branches.

Define nodes and internodes on a stem.

Nodes are the regions on a stem where leaves are attached, while internodes are the portions of the stem between two consecutive nodes.

What are the three main parts of a typical leaf?

A typical leaf consists of the leaf base (attachment to stem), petiole (stalk holding the blade), and lamina or blade (the flattened green expanded part with veins).

What is the pulvinus and in which plants is it found?

The pulvinus is a swollen leaf base found in leguminous plants that allows leaves to move or fold in response to stimuli.

How do petioles help in leaf function and what is their structural advantage?

Long, thin, flexible petioles allow leaf blades to flutter in wind, which cools the leaf and brings fresh air to the leaf surface for better gas exchange.

Important Board Questions

Define the region of maturation in the root and state two main activities that occur in this region. [2 marks]

Maturation region is proximal to elongation zone; identify differentiation of cells and formation of root hairs as the two key activities.

Explain the structural and functional relationship between the three parts of a typical leaf (leaf base, petiole, and lamina). How does the structure of the petiole contribute to the overall function of the leaf? [5 marks]

Describe leaf base for attachment, petiole as a flexible stalk that enables leaf movement for cooling and gas exchange, and lamina as the photosynthetic surface; explain how petiole flexibility allows wind-induced movement that brings fresh air and reduces leaf temperature.

Compare and contrast tap root systems (as in mustard) and fibrous root systems (as in wheat) in terms of: (i) origin and structure, (ii) distribution in soil, (iii) functional efficiency in different soil types, and (iv) representative plant families. Explain how each system is an adaptation to the habitat of the plant. [6 marks]

Tap root: primary root + laterals from dicots, deep penetration in dry soil; fibrous root: multiple roots from stem base in monocots, shallow spread in wet soil; relate structural differences to environmental adaptation and water availability; include examples and explain functional advantages of each in their respective habitats.

Assertion-Reason Questions for Morphology of Flowering Plants

Q1. Assertion (A):

Tap root systems are found in dicotyledonous plants like mustard.

Reason (R):

In dicots, the primary root develops from direct elongation of the radicle and bears secondary, tertiary roots constituting the tap root system.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why tap roots are found in dicots. The radicle's elongation creates the main root with lateral branches.

Q2. Assertion (A):

Fibrous root systems are characteristic of monocotyledonous plants.

Reason (R):

The primary root in monocots is short-lived and replaced by a large number of roots originating from the base of the stem.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both statements are true, and the reason directly explains the assertion. Monocots like wheat develop fibrous roots because the primary root is replaced by stem-base roots.

Q3. Assertion (A):

Root hairs develop in the region of maturation of the root.

Reason (R):

Root hairs are formed by epidermal cells that have already undergone differentiation and maturation.

Answer: B — Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A — Both statements are true—root hairs do develop in the maturation region from differentiated epidermal cells. However, the reason does not fully explain the assertion; it's more about where differentiation occurs, not specifically why hairs form there at that location.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for Morphology of Flowering Plants

Case Study:

A farmer in Punjab grows both wheat and mustard crops. The wheat shows a fine, hair-like root system spreading widely but not deeply in the soil, while the mustard plant develops a thick main root that penetrates deep into the soil with smaller lateral branches. After monsoon rains, the wheat field retains more water near the surface, while the mustard field shows better drainage. An agricultural scientist attributes these differences to the distinct root morphologies adapted to different water availability patterns in the region.

Q1. What type of root system does the wheat plant possess?

  • A. Tap root system
  • B. Fibrous root system ✓
  • C. Adventitious root system
  • D. Modified tap root system

Answer: B

Q2. The mustard plant's deep-penetrating main root develops from:

  • A. Direct elongation of the radicle ✓
  • B. Replacement of the primary root by stem-base roots
  • C. Adventitious root formation
  • D. Secondary root development

Answer: A

Q3. Why does the mustard field show better drainage compared to wheat?

  • A. Mustard roots are thicker and block water movement
  • B. The deep tap root system of mustard penetrates lower soil layers, creating drainage pathways ✓
  • C. Fibrous roots absorb water more efficiently
  • D. Mustard plants produce more root hairs

Answer: B

Q4. Which structural characteristic allows wheat roots to retain more water near the soil surface?

  • A. Presence of a single main root
  • B. Thick root walls preventing water percolation
  • C. Extensive, shallow fibrous root network creating capillary action ✓
  • D. Absence of root hairs

Answer: C

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