Question

The plants that grow on saline soils with high concentration of NaCl, $MgS{O_4}$ and $MgC{l_2}$ are called as
a. Succulents
b. Mesophytes
c. Xerophytes
d. Ephemerals
e. Halophytes

Answer 1

The term saline soil has been described to possess excessive levels of salt that are soluble in soil water, which will negatively impact plant growth. But some plants have evolved themselves to grow even in saline soils with a high concentration of salts.

Complete answer:

Option (A) is incorrect.
Succulents are those plants which are known to retain water in their leaves, stem, or roots in arid climates. They are also known as drought-resistant plants that have thickened, fleshy parts such as leaves or stems to reduce the level of transpiration, thereby retaining water inside them.

Option (B) is incorrect.
Mesophytes are those plants that require only a moderate amount of water for their growth. They are not adapted to either particularly arid or wet environments. These plants possess broad green leaves that are flat, fibrous root systems, and some perennating organs such as corms, rhizomes, and bulbs for storing food and water.

Option (C) is incorrect.
Xerophyte word is derived from two Greek words ‘xeros’ which means dry and ‘python’ which means plant. These plants are adapted to survive in environments with a little amount of water such as deserts, snow-covered regions. Xerophytes include cacti, some gymnosperms, and pineapple.

Option (D) is incorrect.
The word ephemeral means quickly fading. Ephemerals are those plants that have short life cycles and are known to grow when favorable conditions exist while during unfavorable conditions they pass their life in the form of seeds.

Option (E) is correct.
Halophytes are those plants that are adapted to saline environments or environments with high salt concentrations. They can grow in saline environments by either tolerating or avoiding the salt concentrations. Examples include Dunaliella, Atriplex.

Hence, the correct answer is option (E).

Note: The word halophyte has been derived from two Greek words ‘halos’ which means salt and ‘python’ which means plant. These plants prefer saline soils with a high concentration of NaCl, $MgS{O_4}$ and $MgC{l_2}$.