A botanist studying Viola (common pansy) noticed that one of the two flower types withered and developed no further due to some unfavorable condition, but the other flower type on the same plant survived and it resulted in an assured seed set. Which of the following will be correct?

Options

A. The flower type which survived is Cleistogamous and it always exhibits autogamy
B. The flower type which survived is Chasmogamous and it always exhibits geitonogamy.
C. The flower type which survived is Cleistogamous and it exhibits both autogamy and geltonogamy
D. The flower type which survived is Chasmogamous and it never exhibits autogamy.

Answer

A

Explanation

Cleistogamous flowers are closed flowers (do not open at all) in which the anthers and stigma lie close to each other. Example: Viola (common pansy). Oxalis, Mirabilis and Commelina. Cleistogamous flowers produce assured seed-set even in the absence of pollinators. Due to complete absence of pollination, Cleistogamous flowers are invariably autogamous.