Question

Which one of the following has not changed for the last several thousand years?
a) Dryopteris
b) Gnetum
c)Ginkgo
d)Palms

Answer 1

Changes in the living organism is necessary as it helps the offspring to adapt to the changing environmental condition. These changes lead to slow and progressive evolution in the organism. If these changes don’t occur then it means the species has not undergone any evolutionary change.

Complete answer:
Ginkgo is the only living species presenting the division of Ginkgophyta. The other species are extinct. They haven’t changed in the thousand years. It is very specific. It has fossils present dating back to 270 million years. It is one of the living fossils present. Fossils related to it appeared in the early Jurassic era. The plant then discovered had multiple forked leaves with a cylindrical thread-like structure. Modern-day ginkgo plants are best grown in an environment that is well watered. Ginkgo are used for eating and propagating in bonsai.

Additional Information: Dryopteris is also called wood ferns and male ferns. They are small and creeping in nature. They form a crown with a vase-like ring of fronds. Hybridization and polyploidy are present in this process. They are mainly used as ornamental plants. Gnetum are tropical evergreen plants, and are shrubs. They are part of gymnosperms. Their leaves are rich in bioactive compounds. They are edible in nature. Palms trees belong to the family of perennial flowering plants. They are usually climbers, shrubs, and trees. They have leaves which are fan shaped.
So, the answer is ‘ginkgo’.

Note: Ginkgo plant species is very old. It is the only living fossil present in plants. The other species of this plant family has been extinct. These plants usually live long enough. They develop aerial roots when they become quite old.