Question

A flower without non-essential whorls is
a) Monoecious
b) Dioecious
c) Both a and b
d) Achlymydeous
e) Hermaphrodite

Answer 1

Hint : A flower is a modified shoot. It consists of many whorls some of which are directly involved in reproduction and some are indirectly involved in reproduction.

Complete answer : A flower is a reproductive part of the plant. It consists of four main whorls that are arranged in a circular pattern. The outermost whorl is Calyx. It is mostly green in colour and its main function is to protect the inner whorls. The whorl inner to Calyx is Corolla. It is the coloured whorl and its main function is to attract the insects for pollination. The Androecium and Gynoecium are the innermost whorls of a flower. These are reproductive organs and hence are essential whorls. Calyx and corolla are non-essential whorls as these whorls do not take part in reproduction directly.

If a flower consists of all the four whorls, such a flower is a complete flower. If both the essential whorls are present, such a flower is a perfect flower. Thus all complete flowers are perfect but all perfect flowers are not always complete.

If a plant has both the reproductive organs in the same flower, such a flower is known as Monoecious or Hermaphrodite while a flower that has either male or female parts is Dioecious flower. Thus a and e are the same and b is opposite hence option c is completely wrong.

Thus a flower with non-essential whorl is Achlymydeous. Hence the answer is d.

Note : Essential whorls are those whorls that directly take part in reproduction while non-essential are related indirectly to reproduction.