Biology · Morphology of Flowering Plants · NEET
Phyllotaxy is the pattern in which leaves are arranged on the stem or branch. NEET checks this word directly: in ReNEET 2026 the question was 'Phyllotaxy is the arrangement of ______' and the answer is leaves (not flowers, fruits or sepals). Remember 'phyllo' = leaf, so phyllotaxy always means leaf arrangement.
Just count the leaves at ONE node. Alternate = a single leaf at each node, and the leaves come out in an alternating manner (China rose, mustard, sunflower). Opposite = a pair of leaves at each node lying opposite each other (Calotropis, guava). Whorled = more than two leaves at one node forming a whorl (Alstonia). One, two, or many leaves per node is the whole trick.
Alstonia is the NCERT example for whorled phyllotaxy, because more than two leaves come out at a single node and form a whorl. This exact fact was tested in NEET 2019 (Odisha) where the answer to 'Which shows whorled phyllotaxy?' was Alstonia. Memorise Alstonia = whorled; it is the only whorled example NCERT gives.
Calotropis is opposite phyllotaxy, not whorled. It has a pair of leaves at each node that lie opposite to each other. NEET puts Calotropis as a trap option in whorled questions, so do not confuse it. Opposite = two leaves; whorled = more than two leaves.
Because NCERT gives only one clear example for each type, so the examples are easy to test and easy to swap in wrong options. You must lock the three pairs: China rose/mustard/sunflower = alternate, Calotropis/guava = opposite, Alstonia = whorled. Almost every phyllotaxy PYQ is just asking you to match a plant to its type.
Which of the following shows whorled phyllotaxy?
Phyllotaxy is the pattern of arrangement of ________.
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
Alternate, opposite and whorled. Alternate has one leaf per node (China rose), opposite has two leaves per node (Calotropis), and whorled has more than two leaves per node (Alstonia).
Both sunflower and mustard show alternate phyllotaxy, along with China rose. A single leaf arises at each node in an alternating manner.
Guava shows opposite phyllotaxy, like Calotropis. A pair of leaves arises at each node lying opposite to each other.
No. Phyllotaxy is the arrangement of leaves, not flowers. The arrangement of flowers on the floral axis is called inflorescence, which is a different topic.
