Q.59 Match the fruit characters with their families and representative plant species.
| Fruit character | Family | Plant species |
|---|---|---|
| P. Syconus | 1. Moraceae | i. Canavalia ensiformis |
| Q. Capsule, opening by apical pores or valves | 2. Fabaceae | ii. Artabotrys odoratissimus |
| R. Legume | 3. Papaveraceae | iii. Ficus religiosa |
| S. An etaerio of drupe | 4. Annonaceae | iv. Papaver somniferum |
| v. Pistacia vera | ||
| vi. Citrus aurantium |
Options:
- P-2-iv, Q-3-ii, R-1-vi, S-4-v
- P-1-iii, Q-3-iv, R-2-i, S-4-ii
- P-3-i, Q-2-iii, R-4-ii, S-1-vi
- P-4-v, Q-1-ii, R-2-v, S-3-i
Correct Answer: P-1-iii, Q-3-iv, R-2-i, S-4-ii.
Syconus belongs to Moraceae (Ficus religiosa), capsule opening by apical pores to Papaveraceae (Papaver somniferum), legume to Fabaceae (Canavalia ensiformis), and etaerio of drupe to Annonaceae (Artabotrys odoratissimus).
Fruit-Character Matches
-
P. Syconus: Multiple fruit from hypanthodium inflorescence in Moraceae family; Ficus religiosa (peepal) produces syconus like figs.
-
Q. Capsule, apical pores/valves: Dry dehiscent fruit in Papaveraceae; Papaver somniferum (opium poppy) releases seeds via apical pores.
-
R. Legume: Characteristic pod of Fabaceae splitting along two sutures; Canavalia ensiformis (jack bean) bears long legume pods.
-
S. Etaerio of drupe: Aggregate of drupes from apocarpous gynoecium in Annonaceae; Artabotrys odoratissimus forms cluster of drupelets.
Option Analysis
Option 1 (P-2-iv, Q-3-ii, R-1-vi, S-4-v): Incorrect. P mismatches (syconus not Fabaceae/Pistacia vera drupe ); R mismatches (legume not Moraceae/Citrus hesperidium ).
Option 2 (P-1-iii, Q-3-iv, R-2-i, S-4-ii): Correct. All matches as above.
Option 3 (P-3-i, Q-2-iii, R-4-ii, S-1-vi): Incorrect. P mismatches (syconus not Papaveraceae/Canavalia legume ); Q mismatches (capsule not Fabaceae/Ficus syconus ).
Option 4 (P-4-v, Q-1-ii, R-2-v, S-3-i): Incorrect. P mismatches (syconus not Annonaceae/Pistacia drupe ); Q mismatches (capsule not Moraceae/Artabotrys etaerio ).
Mastering fruit morphology is essential for CSIR NET Life Sciences aspirants tackling questions on syconus, capsule, legume, and etaerio of drupe fruit characters, families, and plant species like Ficus religiosa and Papaver somniferum.
Key Fruit Types Explained
Syconus develops as a fleshy receptacle enclosing flowers in Moraceae, exemplified by Ficus religiosa’s fig-like structure. Capsules in Papaveraceae dehisce via apical pores, as in Papaver somniferum, aiding seed dispersal. Legumes, typical of Fabaceae, split elastically; Canavalia ensiformis produces elongated pods. Etaerio of drupe aggregates drupelets in Annonaceae, seen in climbing Artabotrys odoratissimus.
CSIR NET Exam Tips
-
Identify families: Moraceae (syconus), Papaveraceae (poricidal capsule), Fabaceae (legume), Annonaceae (etaerio).
-
Link species: iii (Ficus), iv (Papaver), i (Canavalia), ii (Artabotrys).
-
Practice mismatches: Avoid confusing Citrus (hesperidium, Rutaceae) or Pistacia (drupe, Anacardiaceae).
This matching—P-1-iii, Q-3-iv, R-2-i, S-4-ii—tests precise botanical knowledge for competitive exams.
