Important Questions for Class 11

Biology
Chapter 3 - Plant Kingdom

1. Define gemma. 1 Mark

Ans. Gemma are green, multicellular, asexual buds that develop in receptacles
called as gemma cups.

2. Which group of plants is regarded as the first terrestrial plant? Why?

Ans. Pteridophytes are the group of plants which are regarded as the first
terrestrial plant as they possess both the vascular tissues – xylem and phloem.

3. The gametes and spores of phaeophyceae have a distinct morphology. Give

its name.

Ans. The gametes and spores of phaeophyceae are Pyriform (pear-shaped). They
bear two laterally attached flagella.

4. Which substance has structural similarity to floridean starch ?

Ans. Amylopectin and glycogen both have structural similarity to floridean

starch.

5. Name the organisms which exhibit heterospory and seed habit.

Ans. Selaginella and Salvinia are the organisms which exhibit heterospory and
seed habit.

6. Name seedless vascular plants.

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Ans. Pteridophytes have seedless vascular plants.

7. Which pigment is responsible for the red colour of red algae?

Ans. Phycobilin, phycoerythrin and phycocyanin are the pigments responsible for
the red colour of red algae.

8. What is a cone?

Ans. The fruiting body of gymnosperms consisting of both micro and

megasporophyll are called cones.

9. Name a unicellular algae.

Ans. Chlamydomonas is a unicellular algae.

10. Why some bryophytes are called liverworts.

Ans. Some of the bryophytes are called liverworts because they are liver shaped
eg. marchantia.

11. What are rhizoids?

Ans. Rhizoids are slender, unicellular or multicellular hair-like structures which

penetrate in moist soil and absorb water for plants.

12. Name the algae which is used for fodder to poultry birds.

Ans. Laminaria is used for fodder to poultry birds.

13. Which groups of plants are called vascular cryptogam?

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Ans. The plants of group Pteridophytes are called vascular cryptogam.

14. What is a cone?

Ans. The fruiting body of gymnosperm which consists of micro and

megasporophyll are called cones.

15. What are cone bearing plants called?

Ans. Conifers are the cone bearing plants.

16. Name any red algae which is used as vegetables?

Ans. Porphyra is the red algae which is used as vegetables.

17. What do you mean by thallus?

Ans. Thallus is a plant body which is not differentiated into root, stem and leaves.

18. Name the vascular plants which produce only spores but no flowers or
seeds?

Ans. Pteridophytes produce spores but no flowers or seeds.

19. Where are the antheridia and archegonia located in ferns?

Ans. The antheridia and archegonia are located in the prothallus in ferns.

20. What are the two main classes of bryophytes?

Ans. Liverwort and mosses are the two main classes of bryophytes.

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1. Sphagnum has a lot of economic importance. Justify. 2 Marks

Ans. Sphagnum has a lot of economic importance as it provides peat which is

used as a fuel. It is also used as packaging material for trans- shipment of living
material.

2. Gymnosperms can show polyembryony. Why do you think so?

Ans. Gymnosperms have the ability of showing polyembryony as they have two
or more archegonia.

3. How is the leafy stage formed in mosses? How is it different from

protonema?

Ans. Leafy stage develops from the secondary protonema as a lateral bud in
mosses.

Protonema is green creeping, branched frequently in the filamentous stage

whereas leafy stage is upright with spiral arrangement of the leaves.

4. What features led to dominance of vascular plants?

Ans. The features which led to the dominance of vascular plants are:

(i) Development of deep roots with the ability of penetrating the soil.

(ii) Development of water- proofing material eg. cutin on aerial surfaces, to

reduce water loss through evaporation.

(iii) Development of strong woody material anchor and support above ground
structures.

5. Differentiate between Red algae and brown algae?

Ans. The difference between red and brown algae has been listed below:

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 Red algae Brown algae
Unicellular and microscopic Filamentous and heterotrichous
Phycoerythrin, phycocyanin and Fucoxanthin pigment is present
phycobilin pigments are present.
Reserve food material is Floridian starch Reserve food material is Laminarian
starch.
Chlorophyll ‘a’ present Chlorophyll ‘a’ absent
Example: Gelidium, Polysiphonia Example: Laminaria, and Sargassum

6. Give some important features of dicots?

Ans. Dicotyledons are characterized by either woody or herbaceous habitat. They

have two cotyledons in their seeds. Their leaves are net-veined, the vascular
bundles are arranged in a circle or ring within the stem.

7. List four classes of plants belonging to the fern group.

Ans. Pteridophytes or fern group are divided into four classes:

(i) Class 1: Psilopsida . Example- Psilotum nudum

(ii) Class 2: Lycopsida. Example- Lycopodium phlegmaria

(iii) Class 3: Sphenopsida. Example- Equisetum

(iv) Class 4: Pteropsida. Example- Adiantum and Pteridium

8. How will you differentiate between red algae and green algae.

Ans. The difference between red and green algae has been listed below:

Red algae Green algae

It belongs to Rhodophyta It belongs to chlorophyta
Phycoerythrin, phycocyanin, phycobilin Chlorophyll ‘a’ & ‘b’ with -carotene &
& chlorophyll ‘a’ is present. beta-carotenoids are present.
Reserve food material is floridian starch Reserve food material is starch
Unicellular and microscopic but few are Unicellular or multicellular may be
filamentous and heterotrichous motile & flagellated
Example: Gelidium, porphyra Example: Spirogyra, Volvox

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9. Write two important characteristics of gymnosperms?

Ans. The two important characteristics of gymnosperms are:

(i) It is a group of vascular plant which possess naked seeds attached to surface
of megasporophyll

(ii) Megasporophyll is not folded to form an ovary so no fruit formation occurs.

10. How do fungi differ from algae?

Ans. Fungi differ from algae as:

Algae Fungi
Chlorophyll present so they are green Chlorophyll is absent so they are non-
green.
Autotrophic nutrition Saprophytic or parasitic nutrition
Absorbs inorganic and mineral salts Absorbs organic or mineral salts
Example: Chlamydomonas, Ulothrix Example: Albugo and Yeast

11. Both gymnosperms and angiosperms bear seeds but then why are they
classified separately?

Ans. Gymnosperms are the plants which bear ovules. These ovules are not
covered by any ovary wall therefore, remain exposed. The seeds of gymnosperms
are not covered that is they are naked but in Angiosperms, the seeds remain closed
inside the fruit hence both of these are classified separately.

12. List any three characteristic features of Bryophytes.

Ans. (i) They are small, erect plant growing in moist shady places

(ii) They have no structure that would resemble a leaf, a stem or any root.

(iii) Most of the plants are gametophytes which develop from haploid spores.

13. List any two differences’ between gymnosperms and angiosperms?

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Ans. The two differences between gymnosperms and angiosperms are:

Gymnosperms Angiosperms
Seed plants without flowers & with Angiosperms are known as flowering
naked seeds plants which have covered seeds
There are about 9000 species of There are about 250,000 sp. of
gymnosperms angiosperms
Example: Cycas, Pinus Example: Delonix, Rosa

14. What is the role of the capsule in the life history of moss?

Ans. Capsule is an important structure of sporophyte of moss plant. In the

capsule, spores are produced. When the capsule ripens its dehiscence takes place
and spores are liberated by winds. The spores develop favourable conditions into
protonema.

15. What is the difference between syngamy and triple fusion?

Ans. The difference between Syngamy and triple fusion is that, syngamy is the
fusion of male gametes (sperm) with the female gamete (egg) for the formation
of a zygote whereas, in triple fusion, another male gamete fuse with the diploid
secondary nucleus to form primary endosperm nucleus.

16. Mention some of the uses of ferns?

Ans. Some of the uses of ferns are:

(i) Ferns are used by florists for decoration purposes.

(ii) They are also grown as ornamental plants.

(iii) Wood from tropical tree fern are used in building material as they resist
termite decay.

(iv) Ferns are also used as an astringent during childbirth in order to stop bleeding.

(v) Maiden hair fern is a source of expectorant.

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17. Tabulate differences between Gymnosperm and pteridophytes.

Ans. The differences between gymnosperms and pteridophytes are listed below:

Gymnosperm Pteridophytes
Found in temperate climatic region Found is shady and moist places
Cambium is present Cambium is lacking
Pollen tube is formed Pollen tube is not formed
Neck canal cells are absent Neck canal cells are present

18. What is heterospory? What is its significance?

Ans. Heterospory refers to the production of two kinds of spores in pteridophytes

eg. salvinia and selaginella produces two kinds of spores macrospores and
microspores. Thesemega and microspores germinate and then give rise to male
and female gametophytes. The female gametophyte is retained on parent
sporophyte for variable period of time. So, this event is a precursor to seed habit.

19. What are gymnosperms? What are its four classes?

Ans. Gymnosperms are vascular plants with naked seeds. The seeds are exposed
on the surface of sporophyll. The reproductive organs are usually borne in cones
on which spores are spirally arranged.

Gymnosperms are classified into four groups: Conifers, Cycads, Ginkgo,

Gnetophytes.

20. How would you distinguish between monocots and dicots?

Ans. Monocots and dicots differ from each other as:

Monocots Dicots
Root Adventitious Tap roots
Stem Soft and herbaceous Woody and herbaceous
Leaf Parallel Reticulate Venation
Floral parts Trimerous Tetra – or pentamerous
Cotyledons One cotyledon Two cotyledon
Seeds Endospermic seeds Non – endospermic seeds

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 3 Marks

1. The leaves in gymnosperms are adapted to withstand xerophytes

conditions. Justify.

Ans. Gymnosperms like conifers have needle shaped Ieaves to reduce surface
area, thick cuticle and sunken stomata to reduce water loss therefore, the leaves
in gymnosperms are adapted to withstand xerophytes conditions.

2. The gametophytes of bryophytes and pteridophytes are different from that

of gymnosperms. How?

Ans. The gametophytes of bryophytes and pteridophytes differ from that of

gymnosperms because the male and female gametophytes have free existence in
bryophytes and pteridophytes but not in gymnosperms.

3. Roots of some gymnosperms have fungal or algal association. Give

examples, their names and role in the plants.

Ans. Roots of some gymnosperms have fungal or algal association for example-
Pinus has fungal association to form mycorrhiza which helps ii absorption of
water and minerals. Cycas in its roots forms coralloid roots and helps in nitrogen
fixation.

4. Explain in brief the structure of the prothallus of fern?

Ans. The structure of the Prothallus of fern has been defined below:

(i) Heart-shaped structure.

(ii) Sex organs antheridia and archaegonia are present on lower surface of the
prothallus.

(iv) Prothallus is produced from meiospore as a gametophyte of fern.

(v) Below the sex organs are rhizoids

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(vi) The sex organs which are Archegonia and antheridia are flask and globose
shaped respectively.

(vii) Male and female gametes are produced in the antheridia and the archegonia.

5. Point out differences in sexual reproduction of moss and fern?

Ans. The differences in sexual reproduction of moss and fern are listed below:

Moss Fern
Sex organs are borne on the Sex organs are borne on an
gametophytic plant body inconspicuous gametophyte or
prothallus
Antheridia are well developed and might Antheridia are less developed and devoid
possess a stalk sometimes of a stalk in most of the cases
Antheridial jacket made up of multiple Antheridial jacket is made up of only
cells three cells.
Sperms are biflagellate Multiflagellate sperms are present
Neck is six rowed Neck is four rowed.

6. Describe the main features of pteridophytes?

Ans. The main features of Pteridophytes are:

(i) They are small sized and occur in humid and tropic climate mostly growing as
epiphytes. Some of them even appear like small trees.

(ii) Their plant body is divided into- root, stem and leaves.

(iv) Lycopodium, Selaginella and Equisetum are some of the members of

Pteridophytes.

(v) Leaves are of two types- compound and sporophylls leaves

(vi) Plant body is sporophytic.

(vii) They are vascular cryptogams.

(viii) Alternation of generation occurs.

(ix) Prothallus represent the gametophytic phase.

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(x) Pteridophyta is divided into : psilopsida, lycopsida, sphenopsida and
pteropsida classes

7. “Algae and Bryophytes are different from each other.” Point out the main
differences between them?

Ans. Algae and Bryophytes are different from each other as:

Algae Bryophytes
They are mostly aquatic They are mostly terrestrial and found in
damp, shady places
Thallus may be single celled to branched Thallus is made up of parenchymatous
filaments cells
No tissue differentiation is observed Tissue differentiation is well marked
Stomata is absent Stomata is present
Rhizoids are absent Rhizoids are absent
Asexual reproduction occurs through No asexual reproduction
aplanospores or zoospores
Sexual reproduction is either isogamous Sexual reproduction is only of oogamous
anisogamous or oogamous type
No embryo is formed post fertilisation Embryo is formed after fertilisation
Example: Ulothrix, Volvox, Ulva, Example: Ruccia, Marchantia, Funaria,
Cladophora Porella

8. What are the identifying features of angiosperms flowering plants.

Ans. The identifying features of angiosperms flowering plants are:

(i) Most of the plants around us are Angiosperms.

(ii) The flowering plants show diversities in their habitat, forms, duration of life,
mode of nutrition etc.
(iii) Plants with stems vary from a few mm to several metres in height.
Accordingly, they are termed as herbs, shrubs and trees.

(iv) Plants which survive for a year are annual, those which survive two year are
biennials and those which live more than two years are perennials.

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(v) Plants surviving in dry conditions are Xerophytes; plants living in water are
hydrophytes; those living in moderate conditions are mesophytes.

(vi) All flowering plants have roots, stems and leaves and produce flowers, seeds
and fruits.

(vii) The economic uses of plants depend on the species.

9. Describe the similarities in sexual reproduction of moss and fern.

Ans. The similarities in sexual reproduction of moss and fern are:

(i) Oogamous mode of sexual reproduction involves fertilization of non- motile

female gametes or egg through motile male gamete/sperm.

(ii) In both, the male sex organ consists of a jacket of sterile cells enclosing a
spermatogenous tissue.

(iii) Sperms are flagellate.

(iv) Female sex organ (archaegonia) are flask shaped and have tubular neck with
a swollen basal venter.

(v) External source of water is required for the swimming of sperms in order to
reach the open archegonia.

10. Why are Bryophytes regarded as “the amphibians of plant kingdom”?

Ans. Amphibians live both on land and water however, they must come in contact
with water during breeding season to lay their eggs. Hence, it is essential for
amphibians for breeding.

Bryophytes live on land but require water to complete their life cycle. Through
the medium of water, antherozoids reach the archegonia and fertilise the egg. If
water is not available, they do not survive. With this similarity, bryophytes are
called ``Amphibians of plant kingdom”.

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11. Describe the important characteristics of gymnosperms?

Ans. The important characteristics of gymnosperms are:

(i) They grow in cool and warm climates.

(ii) They are evergreen woody, perennial plants

(iii) They have a well-developed vascular system but their xylem lacks a vessel
and phloem is without a companion cell.

(iv) Plants are heterosporous.

(v) Conifers are cone bearing trees and have evergreen needle like leaves that are
adapted to withstand extremes of temperature, humidity etc.

(viii) Leaves have less surface area, thick cuticle and sunken stomata to conserve
moisture and reduce loss of water by transpiration.

(ix) Ovules are exposed to receive pollen grains.

(x) Gymnosperms possess exposed or naked seeds.

(xi) Polyembryony is commonly observed.

12. List common modes of reproduction in Algae?

Ans. The modes of reproduction in algae are-

(i) Vegetative reproduction: It occurs by fragmentation, zoospores, aplanospores,

palmella stages etc.

(ii) Sexual Reproduction in Chlamydomonas: Flagellated, motile gametes unite

to form a quadri flagellate zygote. It is converted into zygospore. When the
flagella are lost and a cyst wall is formed around it, zygospore germinate by
meiosis to form four haploid meiospores.

(iii) Palmella stage: If the conditions are unfavourable, daughter cells are divided
into numerous cells. Their walls become gelatinous and cells remain together.
This stage is the palmella stage. On return of favourable conditions, the cells
inside the gelatinous mass develop cilia.

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(iv) Asexual Reproduction in Chlamydomonas: It takes place by formation of
zoospores in which cilia from Chlamydomonas are withdrawn. The cell content
gets divided into 4 to 8 daughter cells. In this way, they become motile and called
zoospores.

13. What are ferns? Describe its salient features.

Ans. Ferns are found in warm moist tropical regions as well as dry rocky places.

● The plant body is distinguished into three parts- i) underground stem

rhizome ii) it bears roots and iii) it sends aerial shoots with leaves.

● Leaves of ferns are of two types- a) simple leaves with a single vein and b)
compound leaves with several leaflets.

● The sporophyte phase is dominant in ferns.

● Spores are produced after meiosis, sporangium has an annulus made up of

a band of thickened cells that dry out pulling it open. So spores are released
which then germinate into a prothallus, the gametophyte.

● Gametophyte bears antheridia and archegonia on underside. Antheridia

bear flagellated sperms and egg lies at the base of archegonia. The process
of fertilization starts with the availability of water for flagellated sperms to
swim to reach the egg.

14. Differentiate between Red, Brown and Green algae.

Ans. Red, brown and green algae differ from each other as:

Red algae Brown algae Green algae

Mainly marine Mainly marine Mainly freshwater
Only few are unicellular Unicellular forms almost Unicellular species are
exist large in number
Presence of chlorophyll a Presence of chlorophyll a Presence of chlorophyll a
and c and b
Fucoxanthin is present Fucoxanthin is present Fucoxanthin is absent
Phycobilin is present Phycobilin is absent Phycobilin is absent

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 Reserve food is starch Reserve food is laminarin Reserve food is starch
Motile stages are not Motile stages are seen Motile stages are seen
observed

1. Explain the life cycle in green algae? 5 Marks

Ans. There are three types of life cycle found in green algae:

(a) Haplontic life cycle: The dominant phase is haploid. Diploid state is found
only in the form of zygote or zygospores. Meiosis takes place at time of its
germination. Example: Ulothrix, Spirogyra.

(b) Diplontic life cycle: The dominant phase alga is diploid. It gives rise to
haploid gametes through meiosis. Gametes unit and the zygote regenerates
diploid phase.

(c) Diplohaplontic life cycle: It has well developed multicellular haploid and
diploid phases. These are respectively called gametophyte and sporophyte.
Haploid gametophytes produce haploid gametes.

Sporophytes produce haploid spores by meiosis. The meiospores germinate into

new gametophytes.

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2. Explain briefly the alternation of generation in bryophytes?

Ans. The life cycle of moss represents two distinct generations: gametophytic and
sporophytic. Moss plant is a gametophyte. Spore is the beginning of gametophytic
generation. It develops into protonema which gives rise to male and female
gametophytes.

Gametophyte consists of green thallus having archegoniophores and

antheridiophores which bear sex organs and the gametes are produced in them
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either monoecious or diecious. Club shaped antheridium bears biflagellate sperms
or antherozoids. Flask shaped archegonium encloses the female egg. Zygote is
formed after fertilization of male and female gametes. Repeated divisions of
zygote leads to the formation of embryo (2N) which the develops into sporophyte.
The sporophyte of moss gets differentiated into- foot, seta and capsule. Inside the
capsule single celled spores are produced. After dehiscence, they begin to
germinate and give rise to protonema to initiate cycle again.

Gametophytic Generation alternates the sporophytic generation.

3. Describe the common mode of reproduction in Angiosperms.

Ans. Stamens and pistils are the two reproductive parts of a flower. The stamen
consists of a slender filament with anthers at the tip. Each pistil is made of three
parts- ovary, style and stigma. The ovary contains one to many ovules. Each ovule
contains a megaspore mother cell it produces four haploid megaspores after
meiosis of them three degenerate and the remaining one is a functional

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megaspore. It divides by meiosis forming a megagametophyte. It consists of 8
haploid nuclei embedded in the cytoplasm of which 3 cells lie at the micropylar
end and 3 antipodal lies at the chalazal end. The two remaining nuclei move to
the centre to make a diploid nucleus.

The anthers have a pollen sac and contain many microspore mother cells. Each
of them produces four haploid microspores after meiosis and each becomes a
microgametophyte. It contains two nuclei generative nucleus and the tube
nucleus. The pollen is carried away by air and other agencies and reaches the
stigma of the pistil of the same or different plants. This process is called
pollination. Pollen grains germinate and produce a pollen tube it grows within the
style and reaches the ovule of the ovary. The generative nucleus divides pollen
tube producing two male gametes.

On reaching the ovule, the pollen tube burst to release male gametes. One of the
two gametes fertilise the egg and forms a diploid zygote. The other male gamete
fertilizes with polar nuclei to form triploid endosperm. This is known as double
fertilization.

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4. Classify plant kingdom?

Ans.

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(i) Thallophytic: plant body is thallus i.e. not differentiated into root, stem and
leaves. Example: Chlorella, Ulothrix, Spirogyra.

(ii) Bryophyta: Amphibious in habit, water is necessary for fertilization, Vascular

tissues are absent. Example: Riccia, Marchantia, Funaria.

(iii) Pteridophyta: Plant body is differentiated into distinct underground stem like
rhizome bearing roots and aerial shoots with leaves. Example: Equisetum,
Adiantum, Pteris

(iv) Gymnosperm: Seeds are naked. Example: Cycas, Pinus, Cedars

(v) Angiosperm: seeds are protected inside the fruits. Example Monocotyledones-
grass, maize, rice and; dicotyledons- gram, pea, sunflower

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