Which set of plants bear cones ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3: Cycas and Pinus

The presence of cones, or strobili, is the defining reproductive characteristic of the major plant group known as Gymnosperms, which literally translates to "naked seeds." The cone structure is essentially a compacted, woody or leathery shoot consisting of sporophylls (modified leaves bearing sporangia) arranged spirally around a central axis, and it serves as the organ for sexual reproduction and seed development. In this set, *Cycas* (a cycad) and *Pinus* (a conifer, specifically a pine tree) are both classic, textbook examples of Gymnosperms. *Cycas* is known for producing the largest male cones in the plant kingdom, and its female reproductive structures are a loose aggregation of megasporophylls, often considered simple cones. *Pinus* perfectly represents the Coniferales, featuring both distinct male (pollen-bearing) and female (ovule-bearing) cones on the same plant, with the mature female cone becoming the familiar woody structure that disperses seeds.

The incorrect option is 1: Pinus and Riccia

While *Pinus* correctly bears cones as a gymnosperm, the other plant in this pair, *Riccia*, belongs to the division Bryophyta (specifically, a liverwort). Bryophytes are non-vascular plants whose life cycle is dominated by the simpler, thalloid gametophyte stage. They reproduce via spores that are formed within a small, simple capsule or sporophyte, which lacks the complexity and woody nature of a cone. Therefore, since only one of the two plants in this set possesses the true cone structure, this pair is an incorrect match for the question.

The incorrect option is 2: Equisetum and Marchantia

This pair inappropriately groups plants from two different, non-cone-bearing divisions. *Marchantia* is another example of a Bryophyte (a liverwort) and, like *Riccia*, it lacks cones; its sexual organs are found on specialized, umbrella-like stalks called gametophores. *Equisetum*, commonly known as horsetail, belongs to the Pteridophytes (ferns and allies) and produces a terminal, cone-like structure called a strobilus. However, the strobilus of *Equisetum* is a simple, spore-releasing structure and is not considered a true seed-bearing cone like those found in Gymnosperms, making this set botanically inaccurate.

The incorrect option is 4: Salvinia and Funaria

Both plants in this combination also lack cones. *Funaria* is a typical moss, which is a Bryophyte; its reproductive structure is a sporophyte consisting of a capsule on a stalk (seta) which releases spores, and it does not form cones. *Salvinia* is an aquatic Pteridophyte (a water fern), and its reproductive parts are enclosed in hard, pea-sized structures called sporocarps, which contain the sporangia. These sporocarps are specialized enclosures for spore production that release the spores underwater, representing a reproductive strategy fundamentally different from the gymnosperm cone.