Q. Consider the following pairs :
Plant : Description
I. Cassava : Woody shrub
II. Ginger : Herb with pseudostem
III. Malabar spinach : Herbaceous climber
IV. Mint : Annual shrub
V. Papaya : Woody shrub
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Only two
(b) Only three
(c) Only four
(d) All the five
Correct Answer : (b) Only three
UPSC Prelims 2025 GS Paper's Solution
Explanation :
I. Cassava : Woody shrub Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a woody shrub. It is a perennial shrub with woody stems. Thus, this pair is correctly matched.
II. Ginger : Herb with pseudostem Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a herbaceous perennial plant characterized by a pseudostem formed by rolled leaf bases. Thus, this pair is correctly matched.
III. Malabar spinach : Herbaceous climber Malabar spinach (Basella alba) is a fast-growing, soft-stemmed, herbaceous climbing vine. Thus, this pair is correctly matched.
IV. Mint : Annual shrub Mint (Mentha spp.) is a perennial herbaceous plant, not an annual shrub. It does not have woody stems and typically grows back each year from underground rhizomes. Thus, this pair is incorrectly matched.
V. Papaya : Woody shrub Papaya (Carica papaya) is generally considered a large herbaceous plant or small tree-like herb, not a woody shrub. It has a soft, hollow, herbaceous stem rather than a woody stem. Thus, this pair is incorrectly matched.
Correct matches are:
- Cassava (correct)
- Ginger (correct)
- Malabar spinach (correct)
- Mint (incorrect)
- Papaya (incorrect)
Therefore, correct answer is option (b) Only three.
