Question

The number of fertile stamens in Ravenala madagascariensis is
(a) Three
(b) Four
(c) Five
(d) Six

Answer 1

Hint: Stamen are male reproductive parts of the flower which consist of a long slender stalk and the filament with two-lobed anther present on its tip. Nectaries which are small secretory structures are mostly found on the base of the stamen. Groups of stamen are known as androecium.

Complete answer:
In Ravenala madagascariensis, the number of fertile stamens is six. It is a flowering plant. It is commonly known as the traveler’s tree, East-West palm, or traveler’s palm. It is called a traveler’s palm. It is because of the sheaths of the stem that hold rainwater which could be used as an emergency drinking supply for needy travelers. The water which is stored by the plant is not used without purification as it contains black and smelly water which is murky and should not be consumed. These flowers on pollination produce blue seeds. On aging, the plant loses the oldest and lowest leaves and starts growing a study grey trunk.

Additional information:
The leaves of the plant are paddle-shaped and grow on long petioles with a distinctive fan-shaped alignment in a single plane. It is known as distichous. The pollinator of the plant is Ruffed lemurs. This relationship is coevolved as the size and structure of the inflorescences and the lemur’s selectivity, long muzzle, and method of feeding. The plant needs a sunny spot to grow and requires full Sun when it is larger. This helps in producing better growth and foliage. It can grow up to a height of 7 meters or 23 feet. It responds to the fertilizer and responds well when it is rich in nitrogen during the growing season.

So, the correct answer is ‘Six’.

Note:
The largest variety among the four forms of the plant is Bemavo which is found on the hills of eastern Madagascar. They can grow up to a hundred feet in height and the trunk can widen up to two feet. The chromosome number is 22 to and the foliar fan consists of 22 to 35 leaves. Ravenala madagascariensis is found in Jakarta Indonesia parks of Cambodia and India.