Endosperm, a product of double fertilization in angiosperms is absent in the seeds of

Options

A. Gram
B. Orchids
C. Maize
D. Castor

Answer

To solve the question regarding the absence of endosperm in certain seeds of angiosperms, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Double Fertilization**:
- Double fertilization is a unique process in angiosperms where one male gamete fuses with the egg cell to form the zygote, while the other male gamete fuses with two polar nuclei to form the endosperm.

2. **Role of Endosperm**:
- The endosperm is a nutritive tissue that provides nourishment to the developing embryo within the seed.

3. **Types of Seeds Based on Endosperm Presence**:
- Seeds can be classified into two categories based on the presence or absence of endosperm:
- **Endospermous seeds (Albuminous seeds)**: These seeds contain endosperm.
- **Non-endospermous seeds (Exalbuminous seeds)**: These seeds do not contain endosperm.

4. **Identifying Families Without Endosperm**:
- Certain families of angiosperms are known to have seeds that lack endosperm. Notable families include:
- **Trapaeziaceae**
- **Orchidaceae**
- **Podostemonaceae**

5. **Analyzing the Options**:
- The question provides several options, and we need to identify which one belongs to the families where endosperm is absent.
- The options include:
- Gram (Cicer arietinum) - endosperm present
- Maize (Zea mays) - endosperm present
- Castor (Ricinus communis) - endosperm present
- Orchid (family Orchidaceae) - endosperm absent

6. **Conclusion**:
- Based on the analysis, the correct answer is **Orchid**, which belongs to the Orchidaceae family where endosperm is absent.

### Final Answer:
- The correct option is **Orchid** (Option B).