Question

Adiantum is called as "walking fern", due to
a. Power of locomotion
b. Vegetative reproduction
c. Motile antherozoids
d. All the above

Answer 1

Hint: Adiantum belongs to pteridophyta which were the first plants to possess vascular tissues such as the xylem and the phloem. Adiantum carry out their reproduction via production of spores at the lowermost part of the leaves.

Complete answer:
Adiantum belongs to the family Polypodiaceae. It is a sporophytic plant and its plant body is divided into roots, stems and leaves. They are often found in the mild climates. The plant inhabits moist and shaded areas. These are the evergreen plants having somewhat leather-like leaves. The leaves are triangular in shape tapering into a thin point. The plant is homosporous means the reproduction occurs via production of spores in the sporangia. The spore-bearing structures also known as sori are present at the bottom of the leaves along its veins. The leaf petioles are brittle and shiny black in color.

Thus, new plantlets grow via vegetative reproduction whenever the arching leaves of the parent plant touches the ground thus creating a walking effect. Therefore, Adiantum is also known as the "walking fern”.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note: Adiantum is also called “maidenhair fern”. It is used as an ornamental plant. It occurs in the south-east countries like India, Thailand, Philippines, China, Nepal, Burma and Bangladesh. These plants are delicate, having the appearance of a drooping fern. Its leaf segments are distinctively fan shaped and are found as clusters on the wire like black stems.