Question

Ginger is a stem which can be differentiated from root because
a) Grows parallel to ground
b) Stores food
c) Lacks chlorophyll
d) Has nodes and internodes

Answer 1

Hint: Ginger grows above the ground and runs parallel to the ground. It has scale leaves but lacks chlorophyll. It also stores food.

Complete answer:
A plant is divided into two regions: the shoot and the root. Shoot refers to the part of the plant above the ground whereas the root is underground. The axis of the shoot is the stem. Anatomically as well as physiologically, a stem can be distinguished from a root.

Ginger, can be differentiated from root just on the basis of its morphological characters that are as follows:
- Ginger has the main axis and it grows horizontal on the ground. The rhizome is a prostate, dorsiventral thickened brownish stem.
- On a ginger, brownish lines are visible which represent nodes and internodes.
- Ginger shows the presence of scaly leaves at nodes.
- The rhizome remains dormant under the soil.
- The terminal bud gives rise to aerial shoot at the onset of a favourable condition.
- If the growth of rhizome takes place takes place with lateral buds, then it is called a sympodial rhizome and if the growth of rhizome takes place through terminal buds, it is called a monopodial rhizome. Ginger and lotus are examples of sympodial rhizome and monopodial rhizome respectively.

Thus, the correct answer is option D- Has nodes and internodes.

Additional information: Ginger is a rhizome, which is a modification of stem. It helps the plant to propagate vegetatively. The nodes of ginger are capable of giving rise to roots as well as shoot.

Note: Rhizome is an example of an underground modification of stem. Example- Ginger, Lotus. Rhizomes are classified into vertical and horizontal rhizomes.
Vertical rhizomes are found in ferns, bananas, and pineapples.
The horizontal rhizome is found in lotus, ginger.