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28
Mango and coconut are 'drupe' type of fruits. In mango, fleshy mesocarp is edible. What is the edible part of coconut? What does milk of tender coconut represent?
Explanation

Mango and coconut are drupe fruits. They develop from monocarpellary superior ovaries and are one seeded. It is differentiated into outer thin epicarp, middle fleshy mesocarp and inner stony endocarp.

The edible part of coconut (Cocos nucifera) is endosperm. The milk of tender coconut represents the oily endosperm in liquid form. Later it gets deposited along the walls of endocarp and forms edible flesh.

29
How can you differentiate between free central and axile placentation?
Explanation

Placentation is the arrangement of ovules on the walls of ovary with the help of special kind of tissue called placenta. Plants show different types of placentation, central and axile are among them.

They have the following differences

Free Central Placentation Axile Placentation
Ovary contains only one chambers the placenta bearing.

The ovules are borne on the central axis and less free inside the ovary. The septa are absent.
Ovary is syncarpous and multi-carpellary, i.e., contain many chambers.

Placenta arise from the central axis where the septa fuse to form axile column to which ovules are attached.

30

Tendrils are found in the following plants. Identify whether they are stem tendrils of leaf tendrils.

(a) Cucumber (b) Peas (c) Pumpkins (d) Grapevine (e) Watermelon

Explanation

(a) Cucumber (Cucums sativus), have stem tendril from axillary bud.

(b) Peas (Pisum sativum) leaf gets modified into tendril for climbing.

(c) Pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo), stem tendril from axillary bud.

(d) Grape wine (Vitis), stem tendril from axillary bud.

(e) Water melon (Citrullus lanatus), stem tendril from axillary bud.

31
Why is maize grain usually called as a fruit and not a seed?
Explanation
The maize grain is usually known as fruit because it is infact a ripend ovary which contains a ripened ovule, e.g., a single seed. This fruit is known as caryopsis in which the pericarp is fused with the seed coat. The maize grain occurs attached to a thick cob or peduncle.
32
Tendrils of grapevines are homologous to the tendril of pumpkins, but are analogous to that of pea. Justify the above statement.
Explanation

Homologous Organs are organs that have similar origin but they differ functionally. Axillary bud of stem gives rise to tendril of both grapevine and pumpkins so they have same origin, i.e., homologous, whereas analogous organs are organs having different origin, but perform same function. The tendril of pea arises from the leaf and helps the plant to climb. Hence, the origin of pea tendril is different but, its function is similar to the tendrils of grapevines.