Question

In tamarind (imli), the pinnate leaf is
A. Tripinnate
B. Bipinnate
C. Paripinnate
D. Imparipinnate

Answer 1

The structure of a pinnate leaf resembles that of a feather in which leaflets are arranged on either side of the long axis i.e., rachis. These pinnate leaves can be either paripinnate (evenly paired) or imparipinnate (oddly paired). Based on the number of times of pinnation, these may be unipinnate, bipinnate, or tripinnate.

Complete answer:
Option (A) is incorrect. Tripinnate leaves are those pinnately compound leaves in which the leaflets are themselves bipinnate. Example: Moringa oleifera (moringa).
Option (B) is incorrect. Bipinnate leaves are those pinnately compound leaves in which the single leaflets of unipinnate leaves get replaced by unipinnate leaves themselves. Example: Mimosa pudica.
Option (C) is correct. Paripinnate leaves are those leaves in which the pairs of the leaflet are arranged oppositely along the long rachis and at the end of the rachis, there are two leaflets (i.e., without a single terminal leaflet) making them evenly pinnate leaves. Example: tamarind (imli).
Option (D) is incorrect. Imparipinnate leaves are those leaves in which the pairs of the leaflet are arranged oppositely along the long rachis and at the end of the rachis, there is only a single leaflet making them oddly pinnate leaves. Example: rose.

Hence, the correct option is (C).

Note:
Leaves may be either simple or compound (either palmate or pinnate). The leaves of tamarind plant are pinnately compound leaves due to the arrangement of leaves oppositely along the rachis and these pinnately compound leaves in tamarind plant are evenly paired i.e the rachis does not end with a single terminal leaflet thus making these leaves paripinnate leaves.