Question

In which of the following features, Cycas resembles with angiosperms?

• A. presence of vessels
• B. circinate vernation
• C. dichotomously branched leaves
• D. pollen tube is the carrier of male gametes

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Cycas resembles angiosperm as both show siphonogamy i.e. male gametes are carried to the female gametes through pollen tube. Wind pollination (anemophily) occurs in Cycas. Pollen grains are trapped in mucilage drop. As the mucilage dries up, the pollen grains come to rest in the pollen chamber present at the tip of nucellus. At the time of pollination, a pollen grain has three cells - tube cell, generative cell and prothallial cell. Tube ceil forms a pollen tube. Generative cell forms, a stalk cell and body cell. Body cell gives rise to two sperms or male gametes.