Question

Which of the following plant has a non-succulent xerophytic and thick leathery leaves with waxy coating?
a) Bryophyllum
b) Rescue
c) Nerium
d) calotropis

Answer 1

Answer:

hope it helps

d) calotropis

Answer 2

Answer:

c) Nerium and d) Calotropis

Nerium and Calotropis have non-succulent xerophytic and thick leathery leaves with a waxy coating.

Explanation:

• Xerophytes are a group of plants, growing in deserts, dry hilly regions. They adapt themselves to survive in dry regions with poor water availability and extreme atmosphere.

• The xerophytic plants can live in these environments because they contain special features that help them prevent water loss(transpiration).

• Certain xerophytes have a waxy covering over their stomata,  thus preventing water loss.

• These adaptations check water loss and allow the plant to survive in dry environments.

• Some of the xerophytes which can store water (adaptation to xeric conditions) are called succulents.

• Non-succulent xerophytes are also called drought-resistant plants ( true xerophytes). They face both external and internal dryness.

• Bryophyllum represents a perennial succulent plant. These are also called drought-enduring plants. These plants store water in them during extremely dry periods.

• Thus, option a) is incorrect.

• Ruscus is a succulent that stores water in its cladodes. Thus, option b) is incorrect.

• The drought-resisting plants (Non- succulent perennial) are the true xerophytes or euxerophytes. They possess several morphological, anatomical and physiological characteristics, which enable them to withstand critical dry conditions.

• Thus they suffer from both internal as well as external dryness.

e.g Calotropis procera, Acacia nilotica, Zizyphus jujuba, Capparis aphylla, Casuarina, Nerium etc.

Important adaptations to minimise the loss of water through transpiration are as follows:

• The thick waxy coating on leaves.

• Thick cuticular and epidermal layers.

• Leaves are small, sometimes scaly or survive for a short period only.

• leaves modified into spines or in extreme cases stem devoid of leaves.

• Thus, Calotropis is a non- succulent. These plants develop certain adaptive characteristics to resist extreme drought conditions such as storing water in their plant parts. Thus, option d) is correct.

• Nerium is also a non-succulent xerophytic and thick leathery leaves with a waxy coating to check transpiration.
• Thus, option c) is correct.

Therefore, both options c) Nerium and d) Calotropis are non-succulent xerophytic plants which possess thick leathery leaves with a waxy coating.

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