Question

The plant, which bears clinging roots, is

• A. screw pine
• B. Podostemon
• C. Trapa
• D. orchid.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The question asks us to identify the type of plant that bears clinging roots from the given options. Let's examine each option:

1. Screw Pine: Screw Pines are tropical plants with a spiral stem, and they generally have aerial roots known for forming stilt-like structures for support. They do not have clinging roots.
2. Podostemon: This is a genus of aquatic plants typically found in fast-flowing waters. These plants do not generally possess clinging roots since they require anchorage to substrates in water.
3. Trapa: Also known as water caltrop, this is an aquatic plant. Typically, it has submerged roots and is found in water bodies. It does not possess clinging roots.
4. Orchid: Orchids are a diverse family of flowering plants that often have special types of roots, known as aerial or clinging roots. Epiphytic orchids use these roots to anchor themselves to host plants, allowing them to cling to tree barks or other surfaces without harming the host plant, absorbing moisture and nutrients from the air and rain.

From the explanations above, it is clear that the plant which bears clinging roots is an orchid.

Conclusion: The correct answer is orchid since they have clinging roots that allow them to attach to hosts like trees in their natural habitat.