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NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Biology Chapter 5 Morphology of Flowering Plants are framed in a manner that assists the students in understanding the difficult concepts of the chapter and preparing extensively for their final and entrance examinations. The chapter is crucial for the students of Class 11 because it explains the structure, forms, and modifications of the various parts of flowering plants like roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits in depth. Knowledge of plant morphology aids in the identification and classification of plants, which is essential for subsequent botany and biology studies. With NCERT Solutions, students can solidify their base knowledge, remove doubts, and rectify errors.
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Answers are presented in simple language to help students grasp important concepts efficiently and ace exams. These answers are provided by subject matter experts as per the current CBSE syllabus, making them trustworthy revision and exam assistance resources. If you are finding the Morphology of Flowering Plants hard to understand, these NCERT Solutions will prove to be very helpful in streamlining concepts and helping you in acing your examinations.
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NCERT Notes for class 11 biology chapter 5 Morphology of flowering plants
NCERT Exemplar for class 11 biology chapter 5 morphology of flowering plants
The detailed explanations are given below-
Question 1 . What is meant by the modification of the root? What type of modification of root is found in the:
(a) Banyan tree
(b) Turnip
(c) Mangrove trees
Answer:
Roots are the underground water and mineral-absorbing structures of plants. Besides the role of water and mineral absorption, the roots of certain plants tend to modify to serve various other purposes like storage, nitrogen fixation, aeration support, etc. Such structures are referred to as root modifications.
The modification of the root found in
(a) Banyan tree- The roots of a banyan tree are modified to offer support to the plant. The Banyan tree has pillar-like adventitious roots, which emerge from the aerial stem part. The roots grow downward and offer support to the plant. Such roots are referred to as prop roots.
(b) Turnip- The root of the turnip is referred to as a napiform root and aids in the storage of food.
(c) Mangrove tree- These have roots that are modified for the uptake of oxygen by extending vertically upwards from the ground. These roots are referred to as pneumatophores.
Question 2. Justify the following statements based on external features:
(i) Underground parts of a plant are not always roots.
Answer:
The root of a plant is typically beneath the soil and the stem is above ground. The root does not have to be alone as part of the plant located in the soil, though. Stems, in certain unique circumstances, also reside in the soil. Ginger and banana are some examples of such plants with stems located below ground and enlarged for food storage. They are known as rhizomes. Likewise, the corm is a stem that grows underground in Colocasia. Likewise, in peanuts, the flower, having been fertilized, gets buried in the ground by developing a flower stalk. Therefore, with this knowledge, it can be understood that the underground parts of a plant are not always roots.
Question 3. Justify the following statements based on external features:
(ii) A flower is a modified shoot.
Answer:
After a certain period of growth, the apical meristem of a stem gives rise to the floral meristem. During the formation of the floral meristem, the axis of the stem gets condensed, and the internodes lie near each other. Various floral appendages arise from the node. A flower can be said to be a modified shoot because of the presence of nodes and internodes.
Question 4. How is a pinnately compound leaf different from a palmately compound leaf?
Answer:
Pinnately compound leaf | Palmately compound leaf |
In Pinnately compound leaves, several leaflets are present on a common axis called the rachis. Example- Neem. | In Palmately compound leaves, the leaflets are attached at a common point. Example- Silk cotton. |
Question 5. Explain with suitable examples the different types of phyllotaxy.
Answer:
The pattern of arrangement of leaves on the stem or branch is called Phyllotaxy. There are three types of phyllotaxy found in plants.
1. Alternate phyllotaxy- On a branch, a single leaf arises at each node. E.g China rose
2. Opposite phyllotaxy- At one node, two leaves arise, opposite to each other. E.g guava plant
3. Whorled phyllotaxy- More than two leaves arise at a node and form a whorl in whorled phyllotaxy. E.g Alstonia
Question 6. Define the following terms:
(a) aestivation
Answer:
Aestivation- The mode of arrangement of sepals or petals in the floral bud, concerning the other members of the same whorl is called aestivation. Aestivation in plants can be valvate, Wisted, imbricate, and vexillary.
Question 7. Define the following terms:
(b) placentation
Answer:
Placentation- The arrangement of ovules within the ovary is called placentation. There are five types of placentation found in plants including marginal, basal, parietal, axile, and free central placentation.
Question 8. Define the following terms:
(c) actinomorphic
Answer:
Actinomorphic- The flowers which can be divided into two radial halves by any radial plane passing through its centre are called actinomorphic flowers. E.g. chilly and mustard.
Question 9. Define the following terms:
(d) zygomorphic
Answer:
Zygomorphic- The flowers which can be divided into two similar halves by a single vertical plane only are known as zygomorphic flowers. E.g. peas and beans.
Question 10. Define the following terms:
(e) superior ovary
Answer:
Superior ovary- When the gynoecium is present at the highest position, while other floral parts are arranged below it, the ovary is said to be a superior ovary. A flower with this arrangement is described as hypogynous. Examples include brinjal and mustard.
Question 11. Define the following terms:
(f) perigynous flower
Answer:
Perigynous flower- When the gynoecium is present in the centre while the rest of the floral parts are present at the rim of the thalamus at the same level as the gynoecium, the flower is called a perigynous flower. E.g. plum and rose.
Question 12. Define the following terms:
(g) epipetalous same
Answer:
Epipetalous stamen- The stamen which remains attached to the petals is called epipetalous stamen E.g brinjal
Question 13. Differentiate between
(a) Racemose and cymose inflorescence
Answer:
Racemose inflorescence | Cymose inflorescence |
The main axis of the flower continues to grow and produce flowers laterally in racemose inflorescence | The main axis of the flower has limited growth and it terminates into a flower. |
Flowers grow in acropetal succession. The younger flowers are present at the tip while older flowers are found at the base. | The older flowers are present at the tip whereas the younger flowers are found at the base of the axis. |
Question 14. Differentiate between
(b) Fibrous root and adventitious root
Answer:
Fibrous root | Adventitious root |
The primary root is replaced by a large number of roots at the base of the stem to constitute the Fibrous roots | The roots that arise from any part of the plant apart from the radicle are called adventitious roots. |
Examples of fibrous roots include wheat, rice etc | Examples of plants with adventitious roots include grass, banyan trees, maize etc. |
Question 15. Differentiate between
(c) Apocarpous and syncarpous ovary
Answer:
Apocarpous ovary | syncarpous ovary |
In a flower, when more than one free carpel is present, the ovary is called the apocarpous ovary | In a flower, when more than one carpels are found and they are fused, the ovary is called a syncarpous ovary. |
Examples of the apocarpous ovary include lotus and rose | Examples of the syncarpous ovary include mustard and tomato |
Question 16. Draw the labelled diagram of the following:
(i) gram seed
Answer:
Structure of gram seed-
Question 17. Draw the labelled diagram of the following:
(ii). V.S. of maize seed
Answer:
V.S. of maize seed
Question 18. Describe modifications of the stem with suitable examples.
Answer:
The most important kinds of stem modifications are:
1. Rhizome- It is a fleshy, non-green underground stem with clear nodes and internodes. The nodes have dry-scale leaves with axillary buds. Adventitious roots develop from the lower side. e.g., Alocasia, Dryopteris, Banana, Ginger, turmeric, Canna etc.
2. Bulb- It is a subterranean pyriform to globular structure with a diminutive convex or small conical disc-shaped stem and several fleshy scales covering a terminal bud. e.g., Lily, onion etc.
3. Corm- It is a short and thickened form of rhizome that grows vertically. It is more or less globular with a broad flat base. Adventitious roots develop either from its base or throughout the body. Examples- Colocasia, Amorphophallus.
4. Tuber- It is a swollen tip of an underground stem. It has several small depressions referred to as eyes. These eyes are nodes. Adventitious roots are generally missing e.g., Potato.
5. Runner- These are narrow, green, above-ground special horizontal or prostrate branches which form at the bases of erect shoots known as crowns. E.g. Centella, Oxalis, doob grass etc.
6. Stolon- These are long creeping horizontal runners which may jump over small obstacles. The apex of the stolon usually develops above ground level. E.g. Jasmine, peppermint, wild strawberry etc.
7. Offset- They are one internode long little runners which occur in rosette plants at ground level. E.g Pistia, Eichhornia etc.
8. Stem-tendrils- These are thread-like sensitive organs that curl around support and assist the plant in climbing. E.g. grapevine.
9. Stem thorns- These are tough, rigid, and pointed structures that defend the plants. E.g. Citrus, Bougainvillea, Duranta etc.
10. Phylloclade- They are flattened or cylindrical green stems of indefinite growth that have assumed the role of photosynthesis. The development of phylloclades enables the plants to thrive in arid environments. e.g. Opuntia, Casuarina etc.
11. Cladode- These are green, short-stemmed axes that have replaced the function of photosynthesis by the leaves. The leaves are reduced to spines or scales. E.g. Ruscus.
Question 19. Describe the various types of placentations found in flowering plants
Answer:
Placentation is the positioning of ovules in the ovary of a flower. Plants may have 5 different types of placentation. They are as follows:
1. Marginal placentation: The placenta develops as a ridge along the ventral suture of the ovary, and the ovules mature on two distinct rows in marginal placentation, e.g., peas.
2. Parietal placentation: If the ovules grow against the inner wall of the ovary, the ovary will be called to have parietal placentation.
3. Axile placentation: Here, the placenta will be axial and will have attached to it the ovules, e.g. China rose, lemon, and tomato.
4. Basal placentation: In basal placentation, the placenta grows from its base, and there is one ovule attached to the base. It occurs in marigolds and sunflowers.
5. Free central placentation: The septa are missing in free central placentation as the ovules are present on the central axis. Dianthus and primrose are the plants exhibiting free central placentation.
Question 20. What is a flower? Describe the parts of a typical angiosperm flower.
Answer:
Flower is the reproductive organ of angiospermic plants for sexual purposes of reproduction. A general flower consists of four whorls on the swollen tip of the stalk or pedicle known as the thalamus. They include Calyx, Corolla, Androecium, and Gynoecium.
1. Calyx- It is the outermost whorl of a flower. It is composed of units known as sepals. It is usually green in colour and protective in function.
2. Corolla- It is the whorl that occurs inner to the Corolla. It comprises petals. The petals are vividly coloured to entice the insects.
3. Androecium- It is the whorl occurring beside the corolla. The androecium contains primarily stamens, which are the male flowering part of a flower. A stamen has two components i.e., anther and filament. The anther is a bilobed body having a stalk referred to as a filament. Within the anther, the pollen grains develop.
4. Gynoecium- The innermost whorl of the flower is known as the gynoecium. It comprises pistils. A pistil has three constituents: stigma, style, and ovary. Pistils are the female reproductive units of a flower.
Question 21. How do the various leaf modifications help plants?
Answer:
The leaf is a green, flat, and lateral outgrowth that is supported on the node of a stem or branches of a stem and is specialized to carry out photosynthesis. Besides photosynthesis, leaves usually get modified to carry out various other functions as well. Some of the leaf modifications in plants that benefit the plants are as follows:
1. Tendrils- Plant leaves can transform into tendrils that assist the plants in climbing
2. Spines- These are stiff and hard structures that function as organs of defence. e.g. cactus
3. Phyllode- Leaves of certain plants are ephemeral and are replaced soon by flattened, green organs known as phyllodes. These develop from the petiole of the leaves and are concerned with synthesizing the food.
4. Pitcher- Pitcher plant leaves are modified in the form of pitcher-like organs. These possess digestive juices and assist in catching and digesting insects.
Question 22. Define the term inflorescence. Explain the basis for the different types of inflorescence in flowering plants.
Answer:
The arrangement of flowers on the floral axis is termed inflorescence. There can be two types of inflorescence, i.e. racemose and cymose based on whether the floral axis continues to grow or ends in a flower. In racemose inflorescence, the floral axis continues to grow and bear flowers, whereas in cymose inflorescence, the floral axis stops growing and terminates into a flower.
Answer:
The floral formula of an actinomorphic, bisexual, hypogynous flower with five united sepals, five free petals, five free stamens, and two united carpels with the superior ovary and axile placentation is as follows:
Question 24. Describe the arrangement of floral members about their insertion on the thalamus.
Answer:
There may be three kinds of floral member arrangements around their insertion on the thalamus. These are:
1. Hypogynous – The Ovary is at the topmost position, and the remaining parts are at a lower level than the ovary. The ovary in such flowers is known as superior. Eg, Brinjal, mustard, and China rose. The flowers with such an arrangement are termed hypogynous flowers.
2. Perigynous -In this type, the gynoecium is placed in the centre, and other structures are on the edge at the same level. This type of ovary is referred to as half-inferior, and flowers as perigynous.
3. Epigynous- Here, the ovary lies below all the other structures. The ovary here is referred to as inferior, whereas the flower is referred to as an epigynous flower.
NCERT Solutions for Class 11: Subject-wise
Here are the most important questions from the chapter 5 carefully selected to help you focus on key topics.
Question 1: Endosperm, a product of double fertilization in angiosperms is absent in the seeds of
A. Coconut
B. Maize
C. Orchids
D. Castor
Answer:
The endosperm may be completely consumed by the developing embryo (e.g., pea, groundnut, beans) before seed maturation. Such seeds are called non-endospermic or exalbuminous. It may persist in the mature seed (e.g. castor and coconut) and be used up during seed germination. Such seeds are called endospermic or albuminous.
The embryo in the orchid plant absorbs the endosperm during growth.
Hence, The answer is the option (C) Orchids
Question 2: Where is the placenta attached to the developing seed?
Answer:
The scar on the seed coat through which the seed attaches it to the fruit is known as Hilum. Chalaza is the base of the ovule, Testa is the outer covering of the seed, and lastly, micropyle is a tiny opening in the seed coat through which water gets absorbed in the seed.
Question 3: What does the term venation describe?
Answer:
The veins of the leaves which carry the food and water are designed in a complex net-like structure. This complex arrangement of veins in a leaf is called venation. Venation is of two types based on the arrangement of veins and veinlets.
Question 4: Which plant is used to extract blue dye?
Answer:
Indigo is a natural blue dye historically derived from the plant Indigofera, most commonly Indigofera Tinctoria a genus of flowering plants in the Family Fabaceae. The leaves of Indigofera contain a chemical that turns bluish on exposure to air. Blue dye is widely used in textile industries as a dye for cotton yarn, primarily in the production of denim cloth suitable for blue jeans.
Question 5: What are roots that develop from parts of the plant other than the radicle called?
Answer:
Plant roots known as adventitious roots can emerge from any non-root tissue, including the stem, leaves, or subterranean structures. They may occur as a result of stressors or as a result of regular development. Some adventitious roots—also referred to as aerial roots—either hang in midair or travel a considerable distance through the atmosphere before touching down. Some of these eventually help to maintain the plant in the soil, as those found in screw pine, banyan, and corn (maize).
Also Check NCERT Books and NCERT Syllabus here :
The Morphology of Flowering Plants includes many concept-based questions. Given below are some effective ways to answer them accurately and with confidence.
For the NEET exam, NCERT is very helpful, but learning a few extra things can give you an extra help.
Concepts | NEET | NCERT |
The Flower | ✅ | ✅ |
Complex Permanent Tissues - Xylem | ✅ | ✅ |
Phloem | ✅ | ✅ |
Anatomy of Leaf | ✅ | ✅ |
Lenticels | ✅ | ☐ |
Class 11 Biology Chapter 5 Morphology of Flowering Plants is a valuable tool for students in gaining a strong foundation in plant morphology. Students can improve conceptual clarity, correct mistakes, and be confident in the subject by using these solutions. With proper explanations and a systematic procedure, these solutions not only ensure good scores in exams but also provide a strong foundation for botany and higher studies in similar fields. Getting mastery over this chapter will assist students in gaining a better grasp of plant diversity, classification, and adaptations and hence prove to be a very useful learning process.
Below mentioned are the Chapter-wise solutions:
It is the whorl present next to the corolla. The androecium mainly consists of stamens which are the male reproductive unit of a flower. A stamen is composed of two parts i.e. anther and filament.
The anther is the bilobed structure with a stalk called the filament. Inside the anther, pollen grains are formed.
To score well in the examination, follow the NCERT syllabus and solve the exercise given in the NCERT Book. To practice more problems, students must refer to NCERT Exemplar.
The innermost whorl of a flower is called gynoecium. It consists of pistils. A pistil is composed of three parts stigma, style and ovary.
In this pistils are the female reproductive units of a flower.
Phyllotaxy is the pattern of leaves along a stem or a branch within a plant. Phyllotaxy is very important in maximizing light capture for the process of photosynthesis.
Types of Phyllotaxy:
Alternate Phyllotaxy – One leaf develops at every node in an alternate pattern along the stem (e.g., Sunflower).
Opposite Phyllotaxy – Two leaves emerge at the same node but on opposite sides (e.g., Guava).
Whorled Phyllotaxy – There are over two leaves in a circular pattern developing at a node (e.g., Alstonia).
The stem in flowering plants serves several important functions:
Support – Gives structural support to leaves, flowers, and fruits.
Conduction – Carries water and minerals from roots to leaves and food from leaves to other parts through the xylem and phloem.
Storage – Stores food, water, and nutrients in certain plants (e.g., potato, ginger).
Photosynthesis – Photosynthesis takes place in certain green stems (e.g., cactus).
Propagation – Assists in vegetative propagation using structures such as runners, rhizomes, and tubers.
Protection – Certain stems produce thorns for protection (e.g., Bougainvillea).
Venation is the pattern of veins in a leaf. Two forms exist:
Reticulate Venation – Veins occur in a net-like pattern.
Pinnate (Unicostate) Reticulate Venation: A single major vein (midrib) branches into a network of minor veins (e.g., Mango).
Palmate (Multicostate) Reticulate Venation: Several major veins arise from the base and develop into a network (e.g., Maple).
Parallel Venation – Veins are parallel to one another without forming a network.
Pinnate (Unicostate) Parallel Venation: There is one major vein extending from base to tip with parallel side veins (e.g., Banana).
Palmate (Multicostate) Parallel Venation: Several veins come out from the base and extend parallel (e.g., Grass).
The stem in flowering plants is very important to their existence and development. It gives support by holding leaves, flowers, and fruits. It also acts as a transport mechanism, carrying water and minerals from the roots to other parts of the plant and delivering food produced in the leaves. The stem acts as a storage organ in some plants, where it stores water and nutrients, as in potatoes and ginger. Moreover, green stems are capable of photosynthesis, which supports food production. The stem also assists in vegetative reproduction to propagate plants through features such as runners and tubers.
The two most common types of venation in leaves are:
The placentation types in flowering plants are:
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