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NCERT Solutions Class 11 Biology Chapter 5 - Morphology of Flowering Plants
NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Biology Chapter 5 (Morphology of Flowering Plants) focus on the study of the external structure and forms of plants. While the previous chapters classified plants, this chapter dives into the physical "blueprints" of Angiosperms. Understanding morphology is essential for identifying plant species and understanding how they adapt to their environments.
NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Biology Chapter 5 by ALLEN are curated by expert faculty to simplify botanical descriptions. The solutions focus on technical terms like Phyllotaxy, Aestivation, and Placentation, which are the building blocks of plant identification. These solutions help students visualize the modifications of various plant parts, making the vast amount of terminology manageable. For NEET aspirants, this chapter is a high-yield topic. Questions often involve matching plant examples with their specific modifications or floral characteristics. These solutions provide the precision needed to master floral formulas and diagrams, which are frequent components of competitive medical exams.
1.0Class 11 Biology Chapter 5 Morphology of Flowering Plants: Key Concepts
This chapter examines the diverse forms and modifications of different plant organs. The key lessons include:
- The Root: Studying types of root systems (Tap, Fibrous, and Adventitious) and their modifications for storage, support (Prop and Stilt roots), and respiration (Pneumatophores).
- The Stem: Analyzing the characteristics of the stem and its modifications for storage (Rhizome, Tuber), support (Tendrils), protection (Thorns), and photosynthesis (Phylloclade).
- The Leaf: Understanding parts of a leaf, venation (Reticulate and Parallel), types of leaves (Simple and Compound), and phyllotaxy.
- Inflorescence: Differentiating between Racemose and Cymose arrangements of flowers on the floral axis.
- The Flower: Detailed study of the reproductive unit, including symmetry (Actinomorphic/Zygomorphic), parts of the flower (Calyx, Corolla, Androecium, Gynoecium), and placentation.
- The Fruit and Seed: Understanding the structure of Dicot and Monocot seeds and the development of fruits.
- Description of Important Families: Mastering the technical descriptions and floral formulas of Fabaceae, Solanaceae, and Liliaceae.
2.0NCERT Solutions Class 11 Biology Chapter 5 - Morphology of Flowering Plants: Detailed Solutions
- How is a pinnately compound leaf different from a palmately compound leaf?
Ans. A pinnately compound leaf is one in which the leaflets are present on a common axis called rachis, e.g. Neem. A palmately compound leaf is one in which the leaflets are attached at a common point, e.g. Silk cotton.
- Explain with suitable examples the different types of phyllotaxy. Ans. Phyllotaxy is the pattern of arrangement of leaves on the stem or branch. It is usually of three types - alternate, opposite and whorled. (1) In alternate type of phyllotaxy, a single leaf arises at each node in alternate manner, as in china rose, mustard and sunflower plants. (2) In opposite type, a pair of leaves arises at each node and lie opposite to each other as in Calotropis and guava plants. If more than two leaves arise at a node and form a whorl it is called whorled phyllotaxy as in Alstonia.
- Define the following terms: (a) aestivation (b) placentation (c) actinomorphic (d) zygomorphic (e) superior ovary (f) perigynous flower (g) epipetalous stamen.
Ans.
(a) Aestivation : The mode of arrangement of accessory floral organs (sepals and petals) in relation to one another in floral bud is known as aestivation. The main type of aestivation are valvate, twisted, imbricate, and vexillary. (b) Placentation : The arrangement of ovules within the ovary is known as placentation. The placentation are of different types namely, marginal, axile, parietal, basal, and free central. (c) Actinomorphic : When flower can be divided into equal radial halves in any radial plane passing through the centre, it is said to be actinomorphic, e.g., mustard, Datura etc. (d) Zygomorphic : When a flower can be divided into two similar halves only in one particular vertical plane, it is said to be zygomorphic, e.g., pea, gulmohar, bean, Cassia. (e) Superior ovary : In hypogynous flower, the gynoecium occupies the highest position while the other parts are situated below it. The ovary in such flowers is said to be superior, e.g., mustard, brinjal. (f) Perigynous flower: If gynoecium is situated in the centre and other parts of the flower are located on the rim of the thalamus almost at the same level, it is called perigynous. Here ovary is half superior, e.g., peach, plum. (g) Epipetalous stamen : When stamens are attached to the petals, they are called epipetalous stamens e.g., brinjal.
- Differentiate between (a) Racemose and cymose inflorescence (b) Fibrous root and adventitious root (c) Apocarpous and syncarpous ovary
Ans.
(a) Differences between racemose and cymose inflorescence are as follows:
(iii) The flowers are Flowers are borne in borne in an a basipetal acropetal succession. (iv) The grouping of The grouping of flowers is less flower is more common and common and arrangement of arrangement of flowers in a group flowers in a group is centripetal. Ex. - Jasmine (b) Differences between fibrous and adventitious roots are as follows :
(c) Differences between apocarpous and syncarpous ovary are as follows :
- Draw the labelled diagram of the following: (i) Gram seed (ii) V. S. of maize seed. Ans.
- Take one flower each of the families Fabaceae and Solanaceae and write their semi-technical description. Also draw their floral diagram after studying them. Ans. Family-Fabaceae (e.g., Pisum sativum) Systematic position: Class - Dicotyledoneae Subclass - Polypetalae Series - Calyciflorae Order - Rosales Family - Fabaceae Vegetative characters: Habit: herb. Root: tap, branched, with root nodules. Stem: herbaceous, climbing.
Leaves : pinnately compound, leaf base pulvinate, stipulate, venation reticulate. Floral characters: Inflorescence: racemose. Flower : bisexual, zygomorphic, irregular, hermaphrodite, white or pink, complete, hypogynous to perigynous. Calyx : sepals five, gamosepalous, ascending, imbricate aestivation, campanulate calyx tube. Corolla : petals five, polypetalous, vexillary aestivation, papilionaceous, consisting of a posterior standard or vexillum two lateral wings or alae, two anterior ones forming a keel.
Androecium : 10 stamens in two bundles (diadelphous) of (9) + 1, anthers dithecous (bilobed), basifixed, introrse. Gynoecium : ovary superior, monocarpellary, unilocular with many ovules, marginal placentation, style bent and long, stigma simple and-hairy. Fruit : legume; seeds one to many, nonendospermic. Floral formula : %
Family-Solanaceae (e.g., Solanum nigrum) Systematic position : Class Subclass Series Order Family Vegetative characters: Habit: herbs Stem : herbaceous, aerial, erect, cylindrical, branched. Leaves: alternate, simple, exstipulate, venation reticulate. Floral characters: Inflorescence: cymose.
Flower : ebracteate, ebracteolate, bisexual, actinomorphic, white, hypogynous. Calyx : sepals five, gamosepalous, persistent, valvate aestivation.
Corolla : petals five, gamopetalous, valvate. aestivation.
Androecium : stamens five, epipetalous, polyandrous, anthers large, bithecous and basifixed.
Gynoecium : bicarpellary, syncarpous, ovary, obliquely placed carpels in the flower, bilocular, axile placentation, placenta swollen with many ovules.
Fruits : berry with persistent calyx. Floral formula :
- Describe the various types of placentations found in flowering plants. Ans. Placenta is a parenchymatous cushion present inside the ovary where ovules are borne. The number, position, arrangement or distribution of placentae inside an ovary is called placentation. The placentation are of different types namely, marginal, axile, parietal, basal and free central. (i) Marginal placentation : The placenta forms a ridge along the ventral suture of the ovary and the ovules are borne on this ridge forming two rows, e.g., pea. (ii) Axile placentation : When the placenta is axial and the ovules are attached to it in a multilocular ovary, the placentation is said to be axile, e.g., china rose, tomato and lemon.
(iii) Parietal placentation : The ovules develop on the inner wall of the ovary or on peripheral part. Ovary is one-chambered but it becomes two-chambered due to the formation of the false septum, e.g., mustard and Argemone. (iv) Free central placentation : When the ovules are borne on central axis and septa are absent, as in Dianthus and primrose the placentation is called free central. (v) Basal placentation: The placenta develops at the base of ovary and a single ovule is attached to it, as in sunflower, marigold.
- What is a flower? Describe the parts of a typical angiosperm flower. Ans. A flower is a modified shoot in which the shoot apical meristem changes to floral meristem under the influence of internal and external factors. A typical flower consists of four main whorls:
1. Calyx : The calyx is the outermost whorl and consists of sepals. Sepals are generally green and protect the flower in the bud stage.
2.Corolla : The corolla consists of petals. Petals are usually brightly coloured and help in attracting pollinators.
3.Androecium : It is the male reproductive whorl and consists of stamens. Each stamen consists of a filament and anther.
4.Gynoecium : It is the female reproductive whorl and consists of one or more carpels. A carpel consists of stigma, style and ovary. The ovary contains ovules.
- Define the term inflorescence. Explain the basis for the different types of inflorescence in flowering plants.
Ans. Inflorescence : The arrangement of flowers on the floral axis is termed as inflorescence. A flower is a modified shoot wherein internodes do not elongate and the axis gets condensed.
Two major types of inflorescence are defined - (1) Racemose and (2) Cymose. (1) In racemose type of inflorescence the main axis continues to grow, the flowers are borne laterally in acropetal succession. (2) In Cymose type of inflorescence the main axis terminates in a flower, hence is limited in growth. The flowers are borne in a basipetal order.
- Describe the arrangement of floral members in relation to their insertion on thalamus.
Ans. Based on the position of the gynoecium on the thalamus and the arrangement of other floral members, flowers are classified as:
- Hypogynous flower : In this condition, the gynoecium occupies the highest position, while other floral members are situated below it. The ovary is superior. Examples : Mustard, China rose and Brinjal.
- Perigynous flower : In this condition, the gynoecium is situated in the centre and other floral parts are located on the rim of the thalamus at approximately the same level. The ovary is half superior. Example : Rose.
- Epigynous flower : In this condition, the thalamus grows upward and completely encloses the ovary. Other floral parts arise above the ovary. The ovary is inferior. Examples : Guava, Cucumber and Sunflower.
3.0Key Features of NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Biology Chapter 5
- Technical Vocabulary Focus: The solutions provide clear definitions for terms like "perigynous," "actinomorphic," and "syncarpous," ensuring students use accurate botanical language.
- Example-Based Learning: Every modification and floral type is paired with the specific plant examples mentioned in the NCERT, which is crucial for NEET preparation.
- Floral Formula & Diagram Breakdown: Expert guidance on how to interpret and draw floral diagrams, explaining what each symbol represents in families like Solanaceae or Fabaceae.
- Comparative Morphology Tables: Detailed tables comparing Racemose vs. Cymose inflorescence and Reticulate vs. Parallel venation.
- Prepared by Expert Faculty: Prepared by ALLEN subject experts, ensuring that every morphological description is technically accurate and aligned with the latest syllabus.
- Visual Representation Guidance: The solutions emphasize the importance of diagrams for plant parts, helping students score higher in descriptive school exams.