Question

The smallest angiosperm is
A) Mistletoe
B) Rafflesia
C) Wolfiella
D) Wolffia

Answer 1

Angiosperms are vascular plants with stems, roots and leaves. The seeds develop inside the plant organs, and then form the fruit. Thus, they are also called - flowering plants.

Complete answer:

Option a) : Mistletoe is one of the many species of parasitic plants, of the families Loranthaceae, Misodendraceae, and Santalaceae. It grows as a tangled stem mass which can be upto 5 feet. These grow slowly, but are persistent. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.
Option b) : Rafflesia Arnoldii grows approximately 2.5-3 feet large and weighs approximately 6-7 kilograms. It is sometimes called the corpse flower, & it produces the largest known flower, out of any plant species, in the world. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.
Option c) : Wolfiella is an aquatic angiosperm measuring around 2-10 mm (0.39 in) in width.
It is commonly called Duckweed (in the Araceae family). Common names for this genus’ plants include bogmat and mud-midget. It has no roots, but has a keel-like structure, which allows it to stay oriented in the water. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.
Option d) : Wolffia is the smallest angiosperm which is less than 2 mm in measurement.. It is a genus of 9-11 species which include the smallest flowering plants on Earth. Commonly called Watermeal, these resemble tiny spots of cornmeal, floating on the water. It is a free-floating Thallus (plural: thalli), green or yellow-green in colour, and has no roots. Therefore, this is the correct option.

Therefore, the correct option is (d) Wolffia.

Note: Mistletoes are pests of various trees and are mainly the reason for abnormal growths called “witches’ brooms” - these deform the branches and decrease the overall reproductive capacity of the host.

Wolffia is the smallest flowering plant in the world, i.e., about the size of a rice grain.
Rafflesia’s fully-developed flower looks like a thick and fleshy five-lobed structure, which might weigh up to 11 kgs and might measure almost one metre in width.