Question

The exceptional character of fern leaf tips are
A. Circumnutation
B. Nutation
C. Circinate ptyxis
D. All of these

Answer 1

Leaves are the most important part of a plant. They grow laterally outwards of the stems and branches. Leaves are green, flat and they grow limitedly. Leaves are developed from the nodes and they are arranged orderly. The mature leaf is called a foliage leaf.

Complete answer:
Circumnutation is a type of leaf which is arranged helically. It is counterclockwise in rotation. And this rotation is influenced by many factors namely light, temperature, etc. Circinate ptyxis is a phenomenon where the leaf is coiled during their developmental stages; this is very characteristic of a fern. It is a type of ventilation that is an arrangement of the coil(coiled).

Hence, the answer will be option C, which is Circinate ptyxis.

Additional information:
Ferns have true roots, complex leaves, stem and they reproduce through spores. There are about 10,500 species of fern known but can be estimated at 15,000. The numbers keep on varying because it is poorly studied and new species have been found in unexplored places. Ferns have extremely diverse habitat and reproductive methods. And the size can also vary from 1 cm to 25 meters. Some ferns float on the surface of ponds. Usually, ferns prefer warm, damp areas to grow. They are seen majorly in tropical areas and they decrease with higher altitudes and decreased moistures and few species are seen to grow in cold and dry places

Note: The leaf of a fern is unique when compared to other leaves. Few ferns have narrow leaves and have a single central vascular strand so because of this nature it can be easily distinguishable. Fern leaves are determined, that is the growth of the leaf will stop when it attains maturity. The reason why the fern leaf is coiled is because it has an embryonic tip so to protect that it curls up.