Question

Identify the order where plants show alternate, opposite and whorled phyllotaxy.
A. China rose, Calotropis, and Nerium
B. China rose, Nerium, and Calotropis
C. Nerium, China rose, and Calotropis
D. Calotropis, Nerium and China rose

Answer 1

Hint: Phyllotaxy of a plant is the study of arrangement of leaves on an axis or stem. The term ‘phyllotaxy’ was coined by Charles Bonnet.

Complete Answer:
(I) Alternate phyllotaxy: Alternate phyllotaxy is the arrangement of leaves.
- In this type of phyllotaxy, a single leaf occurs at each node in an alternate manner .
- It is a special type of arrangement in which there is only one leaf at a node.
Example –this type of phyllotaxy is shown by the china rose, barberry, black walnut, Sunflower etc.

(II) Opposite phyllotaxy: Opposite phyllotaxy is a type of leaf arrangement in which a pair of leaves arise at each node opposite to each other.
 Example- this type of phyllotaxy is shown by guava, Calotropis, etc.

(III) Whorled phyllotaxy: Whorled phyllotaxy is a type of arrangement in which more than two leaves arise at a node and form a whorl.
 Example – Alstonia, Nerium, etc.
So, the order where plants show alternate, opposite and whorled phyllotaxy is China rose, Calotropis, and Nerium.

Hence, option A is the correct option.

Note: The phyllotaxy term is coined by Charles Bonnet. The study of phyllotaxy is used to describe the arrangement of leaves on a plant.