The transverse section of a plant shows following anatomical features: Features: (a) Large number of scattered vascular bundles surrounded by bundle sheath (b) Large conspicuous parenchymatous ground tissues (c) Vascular bundles conjoint and closed (d) Phloem parenchyma absent Identify the plant material:

Solution & Explanation

Answer: (C) Monocotyledonous stem. Solution: All four features are diagnostic of a monocot stem: numerous vascular bundles scattered throughout the ground tissue (not in a ring), each surrounded by a sclerenchymatous bundle sheath; a large, conspicuous parenchymatous ground tissue (not differentiated into cortex/pith); vascular bundles that are conjoint and closed (no cambium); and absence of phloem parenchyma. A dicot stem has bundles in a ring with cambium (open) and phloem parenchyma; roots have radial bundles, not scattered conjoint ones. NCERT Reference: NCERT Class XI, Ch 6 Anatomy of Flowering Plants, p.76, line ~14–23: "The monocot stem has ... a large number of scattered vascular bundles, each surrounded by a sclerenchymatous bundle sheath, and a large, conspicuous parenchymatous ground tissue ... Vascular bundles are conjoint and closed ... The phloem parenchyma is absent..."