Consider the following pairs:
| Plant | Description |
| I. Cassava | Woody shrub |
| II. Ginger | Herb with pseudostem |
| III. Malabar spinach | Herbaceous climber |
| IV. Mint | Annual shrub |
| V. Papaya | Woody shrub |
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
- (a) Only two
- (b) Only three
- (c) Only four
- (d) All the five
Answer: (b) Only three
- Cassava is a perennial woody shrub with an edible root, which grows in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. It is also called yuca, manioc, and mandioca. It is cultivated for its starchy tuberous roots, which are a major source of carbohydrates.
- Ginger is an herbaceous perennial plant with a unique structure that includes a rhizome (underground stem) and a pseudostem (false stem). The rhizome, the fleshy underground stem, is the part we commonly consume. The pseudostem, made up of tightly wrapped leaf bases, supports the aerial leaves and flowers. This plant is a member of the Zingiberaceae family, which also includes plants like turmeric and cardamom.
- Malabar spinach (Basella alba) is an herbaceous climber. It is a fast-growing, soft-stemmed, twining vine that can grow up to 10 feet long. It is also known as vine spinach, Indian spinach, and Ceylon spinach.
- Mint is not a shrub. It is classified as an aromatic perennial herb. Shrubs are typically woody plants with multiple stems, while herbs have softer, non-woody stems. Mint plants have soft, square stems and spread via underground and overground runners.
- The papaya (Carica papaya) is a large, herbaceous perennial, not a woody shrub. It has a single, non-woody trunk that is somewhat succulent and soft-wooded. The trunk does not develop true bark and is marked by scars from old leaf bases. The papaya is a tree-like plant, but its trunk is not as woody as a typical tree.
