Question

Which one of the following plants shows a very close relationship with a species of moth, where none of the two can complete its life cycle without the other ?

• A. Hydrilla
• B. Banana
• C. Yucca
• D. Viola

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The given question deals with the ecological relationship between plants and other species, particularly focusing on mutualistic interaction. Here, we need to identify which plant has an exclusive dependency on a moth for completing its life cycle.

Let's examine the options:

1. Hydrilla: This is an aquatic plant primarily known for its growth in water bodies. It does not have a known exclusive mutualistic relationship with a moth species.
2. Banana: The banana plant reproduces through vegetative propagation, primarily developing from planted suckers. There is no specific dependency on a moth for completing its life cycle.
3. Yucca: The Yucca plant is famous for its unique symbiotic relationship with the Yucca moth. In this symbiosis, the Yucca moth pollinates the Yucca plant, and in turn, the moth lays its eggs in the flower's ovary, where the larvae find nourishment. Neither the plant nor the moth can reproduce without the other, exemplifying an obligate mutualistic relationship.
4. Viola: While some Viola species may interact with insects for pollination, they do not have a specific or exclusive mutualistic relationship with a moth required for life cycle completion.

The unique symbiotic relationship between the Yucca plant and the Yucca moth makes Yucca the only correct option for this question. This is a classic example of co-evolution, where both species have evolved together to benefit mutually from each other's presence.

Conclusion: The plant that shows a very close relationship with a species of moth, where both depend on each other to complete their life cycles, is Yucca.