Plant: Economic Importance

115

Q50. Cauliflower is chiefly consumed for which modified plant structure?

[MPPSC — Practice]

1. Immature inflorescence
2. Taproot
3. Seed coat
4. Bark

Answer: (A) Immature inflorescence

Explanation: The edible cauliflower head consists of a compact, undeveloped inflorescence and associated floral tissues. It belongs to Brassica oleracea. This differs from spinach, harvested for leaves, and potato, harvested for an underground stem tuber.

Q49. Which botanical name corresponds to mango?

[UPPCS — Practice]

1. Psidium guajava
2. Mangifera indica
3. Carica papaya
4. Annona squamosa

Answer: (B) Mangifera indica

Explanation: Mangifera indica is the mango tree, cultivated for its fleshy edible fruits and valued in horticulture and processing. Psidium guajava is guava, Carica papaya is papaya and Annona squamosa is custard apple.

Q48. Which fruit-producing plant is scientifically called Carica papaya?

[RAS — Practice]

1. Mango
2. Banana
3. Papaya
4. Guava

Answer: (C) Papaya

Explanation: Carica papaya is papaya, a fruit crop also valued as a source of the proteolytic enzyme papain from its latex. Papain has food-processing and other industrial applications. Mango, banana and guava belong to different genera.

Q47. Which plant is the traditional source of the antimalarial alkaloid quinine?

[SSC CGL — Practice]

1. Cinchona
2. Tulsi
3. Neem
4. Sandalwood

Answer: (A) Cinchona

Explanation: Quinine was obtained historically from the bark of Cinchona trees and became an important antimalarial drug. Its medicinal significance illustrates how economically useful plant metabolites inspired modern pharmacology. Treatment for malaria today depends on clinical guidance and parasite susceptibility.

Q46. Rauvolfia serpentina is economically important primarily because it contains which alkaloid?

[WBCS — Practice]

1. Caffeine
2. Reserpine
3. Morphine
4. Nicotine

Answer: (B) Reserpine

Explanation: Rauvolfia serpentina, commonly called sarpagandha, contains reserpine and related alkaloids. These compounds historically had medicinal uses, including management of hypertension. Their potent effects and adverse reactions make unsupervised use unsafe; plant origin alone does not guarantee safety.

Q45. Which medicinal plant is known botanically as Withania somnifera?

[CGPSC — Practice]

1. Ashwagandha
2. Brahmi
3. Tulsi
4. Amla

Answer: (A) Ashwagandha

Explanation: Withania somnifera is commonly called ashwagandha. Its roots are used in traditional medicinal preparations, and the plant is commercially cultivated. Scientific studies assess its chemical constituents, but traditional reputation does not automatically establish effectiveness or safety for every condition.

Q44. The tree Terminalia arjuna is best known for the traditional use of its which part?

[UPSC NDA — Practice]

1. Seeds
2. Flowers
3. Bark
4. Leaf hairs

Answer: (C) Bark

Explanation: Terminalia arjuna is a timber and medicinal tree whose bark has an established history in traditional cardiovascular preparations. Such products should not substitute prescribed treatment. The example demonstrates that bark, not only leaves or fruits, can carry commercial medicinal importance.

Q43. The plant commonly called amla is identified scientifically as which species?

[RRB NTPC — Practice]

1. Phyllanthus emblica
2. Cocos nucifera
3. Cajanus cajan
4. Dalbergia sissoo

Answer: (A) Phyllanthus emblica

Explanation: Amla, also called Indian gooseberry, is Phyllanthus emblica; the name Emblica officinalis is a synonym. Its fruit is consumed fresh or processed into preserves and traditional products. It is valued for ascorbic acid and other naturally occurring compounds.

Q42. Jute fibre is mainly extracted from which plant tissue?

[SSC MTS — Practice]

1. Stem bast
2. Flower petals
3. Fruit pulp
4. Root cap

Answer: (A) Stem bast

Explanation: Commercial jute is a bast fibre obtained from tissues of the stem, particularly phloem-associated fibres. Plants are commonly retted to separate fibre bundles. Jute is used in sacks, ropes, geotextiles and packaging because it is strong and biodegradable.

Q41. Cotton fibres are botanically what kind of structures?

[SSC CHSL — Practice]

1. Seed epidermal hairs
2. Root nodules
3. Leaf veins
4. Stem vascular bundles

Answer: (A) Seed epidermal hairs

Explanation: Cotton lint consists of elongated epidermal hairs that grow from the seed coat of Gossypium plants. After harvesting, ginning separates lint from seeds. The fibres are spun and woven, while cottonseed may yield oil and animal-feed products.