Plants growing in saline soil are called

Options

A. Xerophyte
B. Hydrophyte
C. Halophyte
D. Heliophyte

Answer

To answer the question "Plants growing in saline soil are called," we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Types of Plants**:
- We need to identify the types of plants based on their growing conditions. The options given are Xerophyte, Hydrophyte, Halophyte, and Heliophyte.

2. **Defining Xerophytes**:
- Xerophytes are plants that are adapted to dry environments. They have features that help them conserve water. An example is the cactus (Opuntia).

3. **Defining Hydrophytes**:
- Hydrophytes are plants that thrive in aquatic environments or areas with abundant water. An example is the lotus.

4. **Defining Heliophytes**:
- Heliophytes are plants that require a lot of sunlight to grow. They are adapted to bright light conditions. An example is the banyan tree.

5. **Defining Halophytes**:
- Halophytes are specifically adapted to grow in saline (salty) soils. They can tolerate high salt concentrations and often have specialized structures for respiration, such as pneumatophores. An example of a halophyte is Rhizophora.

6. **Conclusion**:
- Based on the definitions and examples provided, the correct answer to the question is that plants growing in saline soil are called **Halophytes**.

### Final Answer:
Plants growing in saline soil are called **Halophytes**.

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