Secondary growth is absent in

Options

A. roots
B. stem
C. leaves
D. gymnosperms

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Secondary Growth**:
- Secondary growth refers to the increase in thickness or girth of a plant. It is primarily due to the activity of the cambium, a type of lateral meristem.

2. **Identifying Where Secondary Growth Occurs**:
- Secondary growth is typically observed in dicotyledonous plants (dicots), which have a cambium layer between their vascular bundles. This allows for the formation of secondary xylem (wood) and secondary phloem.

3. **Monocots and Secondary Growth**:
- In contrast, monocotyledonous plants (monocots) do not have a cambium layer, which means they do not undergo secondary growth. Therefore, they do not increase in thickness or girth like dicots.

4. **Analyzing the Options**:
- The question asks where secondary growth is absent.
- The options include:
- A) Roots
- B) Stems
- C) Leaves
- D) Gymnosperms
- From our understanding, secondary growth is present in roots and stems of dicots, and it is also present in gymnosperms. However, secondary growth does not occur in leaves.

5. **Conclusion**:
- The correct answer to the question "Secondary growth is absent in" is **C) Leaves**.