Question

Illustrate the leaf of bryophyllum with a bud and its reproduction system?

Answer 1

Bryophyllum daigremontianum is a plant which undergoes vegetative propagation with leaf. This plant is also called the ‘mother of thousands’ for its many plantlets.

Complete answer:
Bryophyllum is a group of plant species of the family Crussulaceae. They are also known as air plants. The most commonly cultivated species of Bryophyllum are: Bryophyllum daigremontianum, Bryophyllum pinnatum, Bryophyllum delagoense, etc. The reproduction occurs through asexual means, mainly through vegetative propagation of leaves. Reproduction in plants with the help of vegetative part like root, leaf, stem and bud is called as vegetative reproduction.
In Bryophyllum, the young plant develops from the adventitious bud and the plantlets are present along the leaf margins. The new plants can detach from the leaves and develop into a full plant after falling on the ground.

Additional information:
Advantages of vegetative propagation-
->The new plants have all the characteristics of their parent plant.
->The plants produced by vegetative propagation grow rapidly and the cost and complex process of production of flowers, seeds and fruits can be avoided.
->Desired varieties will continue to pass down its advantageous genetic information to the offspring. ->Hence, it is economically valuable.
-> Offers research advantages.

Note: There are about forty species of Bryophyllum, native to South Africa, Madagascar, and Asia. The plantlets, of this plant group, arise from mitosis of the meristematic-type tissues in phylloclades.