Question

Which is correct about $Viola$ ?

• A. Commonly called common pansy
• B. Bears two types of flowers, chasmogamous and cleistogamous
• C. Produce assured seed-set even in the absence of pollinators
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

• Some plants such as Viola (common pansy), Oxalis and Commelina produce two types of flowers—Chasmogamous flowers which are similar to flowers of other species with exposed anthers and stigma, and cleistogamous flowers which do not open at all.
• In such flowers, the anthers and stigma lie close to each other. When anther dehisce in the flower bud, pollen grains come in contact with stigma to effect pollination.
• Cleistogamous flowers are invariably autogamous as there is no chance of cross-pollen landing on the stigma.
• Cleistogamous flowers produce assured seed-set even in absence of pollinators.