Question

_______is an example of a monocot.
(a) Nutmeg
(b) Maize
(c) cinnamon
(d) Sunflower
(e) Both b and c

Answer 1

Monocots are usually grass and grass like flowering plants. Their seeds contain only one cotyledon. They form a major source of agricultural food products. Major food-producing grains are usually monocots. Grains such as wheat, rice belong to monocots.

Complete step by step answer:
Major grains like maize are monocots. Maize is a cereal grain, which is also known as corn. The leafy stalk of the plant produces the pollen inflorescence and separate ovuliferous inflorescence called ears that yield seed, which is fruits. Maize is widely cultivated throughout the world. In agriculture, the majority of the biomass is produced by monocotyledons. They not only include grains but also grasses like sugarcane, and bamboo. Other monocots like palms, bananas, and plantains are also commercially important plants. Monocots have a single embryonic leaf or cotyledon in their seed. The monocots include about 60,000 species. The largest family in this group is orchids. Many of the species belong to true grasses. Grasses are not an economically important family. Most of the plants cultivated for their bloom such as lilies, tulips, cannas, etc. are monocots. Monocots lack a lateral meristem or cambium which allows the continual growth in diameter with height.

Additional Information:
- Monocot leaves are narrow and linear, forming a sheathing around the stem at its base. Although there are many exceptions to it.
- Monocots develop runners and rhizomes in addition to roots. Runners and rhizomes are creeping shoots.
- Rhizomes frequently have an additional storage function. The rhizome producing plants are considered as geophytes.
So, the correct answer is 'Maize'.

Note:
- Maize is a facultative short- day plant and flowers in a certain number of growing degree days.
- In addition to being consumed directly by humans it is also used for corn ethanol, animal feed, and other maize products.
- Sugar rich varieties like sweet corn are usually grown for human consumption as kernels.