Describe modifications of stem with suitable examples.
Stems are modified to perform different functions. Underground stems of some plants are modified to store food in them. They also act as organs of perennation to tide over conditions unfavourable for growth. Different modifications of stem are :
(i) Underground modifications
(ii)Sub-aerial modifications
(iii)Aerial modifications
(i)Underground modifications of stem are discussed as follows:
(a)Tuber: It is the branch of main stem which accumulates or stores food in it and swells up, e.g., Solarium tuberosum (potato).
(b) Rhizome: It is a branched, prostrate horizontally growing stem having nodes and internodes. On the nodes sessile scale leaves are formed, e.g., Carina, Zingiber officinale (ginger), Curcuma domestica (turmeric) etc.
(c) Corm: This is a spherical,
branched, vertically growing thick underground stem with more diameter than length, e.g., Crocus sativus (saffron), Gladiolus, Colocasia esculenta (arvi) etc.
(d) Bulb: In bulb the stem is highly reduced and can be seen only as a disc-like structure bearing numerous fleshy scaly leaves, e.g., Allium cepa (onion), Allium sativum (garlic) etc.
(ii) Subaerial modifications : Subaerial part of stem grows horizontally on the ground while some part remains underground. Vegetative propagation takes place by means of these. They may be of following kinds.
(a) Runner: It grows prostrate on the surface of soil. It develops at the base of erect shoot called crown. A number of runners arise from one erect shoot which spread in different directions. Each runner has one or more nodes which bear scale leaves and axillary buds, e.g., Cynodon (doob grass).
(b) Stolon: The nodes of horizontally growing underground stem give rise to branches which come out of the soil, e.g., Fragaria (strawberry).
(c) Sucker: Suckers are formed from the node of underground stem. Sucker comes up obliquely in the form of leafy shoot, e.g., Mentha (mint).
(d) Offset: Stem consists of thick and short intemodes. The branches are formed from the main stem and upper portion of each branch bears a group of leaves while the lower portion bears the roots. Each branch is capable of growing as an independent plant after separating from the parent plant, e.g., Eichhornia (water hyacinth), Pistia, etc.
(iii)Aerial modifications : The aerial portion of stem is modified to perform different functions, e.g., climbing, protection, food manufacturing, etc. It may show following types of modifications:
(a) Twinners : The stem is long, flexible and sensitive which can coil around an upright support like a rope, e.g., Ipomoea, Convolvulus.
(b) Climbers : The stem is weak and flexible but is unable to coil around an upright support by itself. It requires the help of clasping or clinging structures. Accordingly, climbers are of four types : root climbers, e.g., Betel; tendril climber, e.g., Passiflora; scramblers, e.g., Bougainvillea and lianas, e.g., Bauhinia.
(c) Phylloclade: The stem performs the function of photosynthesis. The stem modifies into green fleshy leaf-like
structure having distinct nodes and intemodes. Leaves of such plants are reduced into spines in order to prevent loss of water, e.g., Opantia (prickly pear), Euphorbia.
(d) Cladode: It is similar to phylloclade with only one internode, e.g., Asparagus.
(e) Thorn: Stem is modified into stiff, pointed unbranched or branched structures which have lost their growing point and become hard, called as thorns, e.g., Bougainvillea,Pomegranate, Citrus, etc. They perform defensive function.
(f) Tendrils : These are thread like sensitive structures which can coil around a support and help the plant
in climbing, e.g., Cucurbita.
(g) Bulbils: In some plants vegetative buds or floral buds modify into a swollen structure called bulbil. It separates from the parent plant and on approach of favourable condition gives rise to a new plant, i.e., it is an organ of vegetative reproduction, e.g., Agave, Oxalis.
Mango and coconut are ‘drupe’ type of fruits. In mango fleshy mesocarp is edible. What is the edible part of coconut? What does milk of tender coconut represent?
Roots obtain oxygen from air in the soil for respiration. In the absence or deficiency of 02, root growth is restricted or com pletely stopped. How do the plants growing in marshlands or swamps obtain their 02 required for root respiration?
In swampy areas like the Sunderbans in West Bengal, plants bear special kind of roots called __________ .
Write floral formula for a flower which, is bisexual; actinoiflorphic; sepals five, twisted aestivation, petals five; valvate aestivation; stamens six; ovary tricarpellary, syncarpous, superior, trilocular with axile placentation.
Seeds of some plants germinate immediately after shedding from the plants while in other plants they require a period of rest before germination. The later phenomena is called as dormancy. Give the reasons for seed dormancy and some methods to break it.
Tendrils are found in the following plants. Identify whether they are stem tendrils or leaf tendrils,
a.Cucumber
b. Peas
c. Pumpkins
. Grapevine
e. Watermelons
Reticulate venation is found in dicot leaves while in monocot leaves venation is of parallel type. Biology being a ‘Science of exceptions’, find out any exception to this generalisation.
Mango and coconut are ‘drupe’ type of fruits. In mango fleshy mesocarp is edible. What is the edible part of coconut? What does milk of tender coconut represent?
Match the followings and choose the correct option.
|
Group A |
Group B | ||
|
A. |
Aleurone layer | (i) |
Without fertilization |
|
B. |
Parthenocarpic fruit | (ii) |
Nutrition |
|
C. |
Ovule | (iii) |
Double fertilization |
| D. |
Endosperm |
(iv) |
Seed |
Options:
The essential functions of roots are anchorage and absorption of water and minerals in the terrestrial plant. What functions are associated with the roots of aquatic plants? How are roots of aquatic plants and terrestrial plants different?
Given below are a few floral formulae of some well known plants. Draw floral diagrams from these formulae.
Roots obtain oxygen from air in the soil for respiration. In the absence or deficiency of 02, root growth is restricted or completely stopped. How do the plants growing in marshlands or swamps obtain their 02 required for root respiration?
Rhizome of ginger is like the roots of other plants that grows underground. Despite this fact ginger is a stem and not a root. Justify.
Stolon, offset and rhizome are different forms of stem modifications. How can these modified forms of stem be distinguished from each other?
The essential functions of roots are anchorage and absorption of water and minerals in the terrestrial plant. What functions are associated with the roots of aquatic plants. How are roots of aquatic plants and terrestrial plants different?
Write the floral formula of an actinomorphic, bisexual, hypogynous flower with five united sepals, five free petals, five free stamens and two united carples with superior ovary and axile placentation.
How do you distinguish between hypogeal germination and epigeal germination? What is the role of cotyledon (s) and the endosperm in the germination of seeds?
You have heard about several insectivorous plants that feed on insects. Nepenthes or the pitcher plant is one such example, which usually grows in shallow water or in marsh lands. What part of the plant is modified into a ‘pitcher’? How does this modification help the plant for food even though it can photosynthesise like any other green plant?
In Opuntia the stem is modified into a flattened green structure to perform the function of leaves (i.e., photosynthesis). Cite some other examples of modifications of plant parts for the purpose of photosynthesis.
Reticulate venation is found in dicot leaves while in monocot leaves venation is of parallel type. Biology being a 'Science of exceptions', find out any exception to this generalization.
Give two examples of roots that develop from . different parts of the angiospermic plant other than the radicle.
Reticulate and parallel venation are characteristic of ________ and ______ respectively.
Mango and coconut are ˜drupe' type of fruits. In mango fleshy mesocarp is edible. What is the edible part of coconut? What does milk of tender coconut represent?
Tendrils of grapevines are homologous to the tendril of pumpkins but are analogous to that of pea. Justify the above statement.
In swampy areas like the Sunderbans in West Bengal, plants bear special kind of roots called _______
You have heard about several insectivorous plants that feed on insects. Nepenthes or the pitcher plant is one such example, which usually grows in shallow water or in marsh lands. What part of the plant is modified into a 'pitcher'? How does this modification help the plant for food even though it can photosynthesize like any other green plant?
The arrangements of ovules within the ovary is known as placentation. What does the term placenta refer to? Name and draw various types of placentations in the flower as seen in T.S. or V.S.
In Opuntia the stem is modified into a flattened green structure to perform the function of leaves (/’.e., photosynthesis). Cite some other examples of modifications of plant parts for the purpose of photosynthesis.
Tendrils of grapevines are homologous to the tendril of pumpkins but are analogous to that of pea. Justify the above statement.
Define the following terms:
(a) aestivation (b) placentation
(c) actinomorphic (d) zygomorphic
(e) superior ovary (f) perigynous flower (g) epipetalous stamen.
