Question

Clove used as spice represents _________.
A. Seed
B. Leaves
C. Tepals
D. Bracts

Answer 1

The clove plant is an evergreen plant that grows up to the height of 8 to 12 meters. It has large leaves and crimson-colored flowers that are positioned in terminal clusters. The clove is formed out of the undifferentiated perianth. The sepals and the petals of the clove flower cannot be differentiated.

Complete answer: The clove is a popular spice used in various exotic dishes. It is native to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia. They are available throughout the year as the clove plant is an evergreen plant. The clove is the development of the undifferentiated perianth. The perianth is the non-reproductive part of a flower that surrounds the male and female organs of a flower. The function of the perianth is to provide protection and means of fertilization to the sexual parts of the flower. The perianth differentiates to form the sepals and the petals. The sepals are the green lower whorl of a flower. It encloses the petals of a flower in the initial stages of flower growth. The petals of the flower make the main whorl of the flower which is colorful and aromatic.
Sometimes the perianth is unable to differentiate and form petals and sepals of a flower. In such cases, the flower part is unable to be differentiated. The perianth stays closed and is called as tepals. The outer parts of the flower become tepals. Clove is an example of tepals spice. The clove plant produces crimson flowers. The flower bud has a pale color in its initial stages. Later it develops green color. Then at the time of the harvest, the flower turns bright red. A clove consists of sepals that terminate into four unopened petals. This results in the formation of a small central ball giving a characteristic shape to clove.
Hence, the right answer is option C. Tepals

Note: The Magnolia species also shows the formation of tepals. The tepals are thought to be the ancestral condition of flowering plants. It is thought that a differentiated flower consisting of opened sepals and petals resulted from the differentiation of tepals. In some flowers, the tepals may have differentiated but the sepals and petals look alike like in Lilium.