Match Column I with Column II and choose the correct answer using the codes given below :
Column I - Column II
(A) Lamiaceae - (i) Vexillary aestivatio
(B) Asteraceae - (ii) Monadelphous stamens
(C) Fabaceae - (iii) Gynobasic style
(D) Malvaceae - (iv) Capitulum inflorescence

Question

Match Column I with Column II and choose the correct answer using the codes given below : 
Column I - Column II 
(A) Lamiaceae - (i) Vexillary aestivatio 
(B) Asteraceae - (ii) Monadelphous stamens
(C) Fabaceae -  (iii) Gynobasic style
(D) Malvaceae - (iv) Capitulum inflorescence

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:

This option, A(iii) B(iv) C(i) D(ii), correctly matches each plant family in Column I with one of its unique, defining floral characteristics listed in Column II. The Lamiaceae family, exemplified by plants like mint and basil, is famously characterized by the **Gynobasic style (iii)**, where the style appears to arise directly from the base of the four deep ovary lobes rather than the apex. The Asteraceae family, which includes daisies and sunflowers, is universally recognized by its specialized inflorescence, the **Capitulum (Head) (iv)**, which is a dense cluster of small florets aggregated onto a common receptacle. The Fabaceae family, which covers peas and beans, is defined by the **Vexillary aestivation (i)** of its corolla, where the large posterior petal (standard) overlaps the two lateral petals (wings), which in turn overlap the two anterior petals (keel). Finally, the Malvaceae family, known for cotton and hibiscus, features **Monadelphous stamens (ii)**, meaning the filaments of all stamens are fused together into a single column or tube around the pistil. These four morphological traits are crucial diagnostic features for their respective plant families.

The incorrect option is 1: A(ii) B(i) C(iv) D(iii)

This option incorrectly pairs Monadelphous stamens (ii) with Lamiaceae (A) and Gynobasic style (iii) with Malvaceae (D). Monadelphous stamens are the hallmark of the Malvaceae family, not Lamiaceae, which typically has didynamous (four stamens in two pairs of different lengths) or epipetalous stamens. Furthermore, the Lamiaceae family is defined by the Gynobasic style (iii), which this option wrongly assigns to Malvaceae. Capitulum inflorescence (iv) is incorrectly matched with Fabaceae (C), whose inflorescence is often a raceme, and Vexillary aestivation (i) is incorrectly matched with Asteraceae (B), which is characterized by the capitulum.

The incorrect option is 3: A(i) B(iii) C(ii) D(iv)

This option makes multiple errors by scrambling the key characteristics across the four families. It incorrectly associates Lamiaceae (A) with Vexillary aestivation (i), which belongs exclusively to Fabaceae (C). It incorrectly matches the Gynobasic style (iii) to the Asteraceae family (B); Asteraceae typically possesses a slender style with a bifid stigma, not the deep ovarian lobing characteristic of Lamiaceae. Furthermore, this option wrongly assigns Monadelphous stamens (ii) to Fabaceae (C) and the Capitulum inflorescence (iv) to Malvaceae (D), both of which are fundamentally incorrect matches based on floral morphology.

The incorrect option is 4: A(iv) B(ii) C(iii) D(i)

This option provides a completely mismatched set of characteristics. It incorrectly links Lamiaceae (A) with Capitulum inflorescence (iv), which is the defining trait of Asteraceae. It also makes an error by pairing Monadelphous stamens (ii) with Asteraceae (B), a feature that belongs to Malvaceae (D). Gynobasic style (iii) is incorrectly associated with Fabaceae (C), as this is the defining characteristic of Lamiaceae (A). Finally, Vexillary aestivation (i), the classic feature of Fabaceae, is incorrectly assigned to Malvaceae (D), which generally has contorted aestivation.