Morphology of stem MCQs With Answer is a focused study resource for B.Pharm students preparing for pharmacognosy and botany exams. This concise, keyword-rich introduction covers stem morphology, stem anatomy, stem modifications, vascular bundles, nodes and internodes, secondary growth, and diagnostic cross-section features used in drug identification. Each MCQ targets clinical relevance, identification of medicinal stems, and structural adaptations important for pharmaceutical applications. Questions range from basic definitions to detailed anatomical traits and examples from common medicinal plants, helping you master both theory and practical microscopy. Now let’s test your knowledge with 50 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What is the primary function of nodes on a stem?
- Conduct water and nutrients
- Attach leaves and buds
- Store food
- Provide structural support
Correct Answer: Attach leaves and buds
Q2. Which tissue forms the outer protective layer of a young herbaceous stem?
- Cortex
- Endodermis
- Epidermis
- Pith
Correct Answer: Epidermis
Q3. In a typical dicot stem cross-section, which region contains loosely arranged parenchyma cells with chloroplasts?
- Xylem
- Cortex
- Pith
- Phloem
Correct Answer: Cortex
Q4. Which vascular bundle arrangement is characteristic of monocot stems?
- Circular eustele
- Collateral and arranged in a ring
- Scattered vascular bundles (atactostele)
- Concentric amphivasal bundles
Correct Answer: Scattered vascular bundles (atactostele)
Q5. What is a rhizome?
- An underground swollen root
- A horizontal underground stem
- An aerial stem that climbs
- A swollen leaf base
Correct Answer: A horizontal underground stem
Q6. Which stem modification stores starch and forms eyes as buds, commonly seen in potato?
- Tuber
- Bulb
- Corm
- Rhizome
Correct Answer: Tuber
Q7. In woody stems, what is produced by the vascular cambium towards the outside?
- Secondary xylem
- Primary phloem
- Secondary phloem
- Phellem (cork)
Correct Answer: Secondary phloem
Q8. Which structure allows gas exchange through the periderm in woody stems?
- Lenticels
- Node pores
- Trichomes
Correct Answer: Lenticels
Q9. Amphicribral vascular bundles have which arrangement?
- Xylem surrounds phloem
- Phloem surrounds xylem
- Xylem and phloem side by side
- Interrupted phloem strands
Correct Answer: Phloem surrounds xylem
Q10. Which part of the stem is primarily involved in secondary thickening in dicots?
- Apical meristem
- Cork cambium (phellogen)
- Vascular cambium
- Procambium
Correct Answer: Vascular cambium
Q11. What is a tendril in terms of stem modification?
- A leaf-derived adhesive pad
- A climbing modified stem or leaf
- An underground storage stem
- A floral support structure
Correct Answer: A climbing modified stem or leaf
Q12. Which example is a stem modification adapted for climbing?
- Ginger (rhizome)
- Pea tendrils
- Onion bulbs
- Carrot taproot
Correct Answer: Pea tendrils
Q13. In cross-section, what identifies a eustele?
- Scattered vascular bundles
- A solid core of xylem only
- Vascular bundles arranged in a ring
- Concentric vascular strands
Correct Answer: Vascular bundles arranged in a ring
Q14. Which stem modification is typically covered by tunicated scales and stores nutrients?
- Bulb
- Tuber
- Stolon
- Cladode
Correct Answer: Bulb
Q15. What is a cladode?
- A reduced underground stem
- A photosynthetic flattened stem resembling a leaf
- A spiny root modification
- A fungal association on the stem
Correct Answer: A photosynthetic flattened stem resembling a leaf
Q16. Which feature is diagnostic for identifying dicot stem under microscope?
- Scattered vascular bundles
- Presence of pith and cortex with ringed vascular bundles
- Homogenous ground tissue
- Absence of vascular bundles
Correct Answer: Presence of pith and cortex with ringed vascular bundles
Q17. In stem anatomy, what is the role of sclerenchyma fibers associated with vascular bundles?
- Conduct water
- Provide mechanical support
- Store lipids
- Photosynthesize
Correct Answer: Provide mechanical support
Q18. Which of the following is a typical example of a stolon?
- Strawberry runner
- Potato tuber
- Onion bulb
- Ginger rhizome
Correct Answer: Strawberry runner
Q19. What distinguishes a corm from a bulb?
- Corm is made of fleshy stem tissue; bulb has fleshy modified leaves
- Corm has tunicated scales; bulb is solid stem
- Both are identical structures
- Bulb lacks storage function
Correct Answer: Corm is made of fleshy stem tissue; bulb has fleshy modified leaves
Q20. Which layer is often absent or reduced in monocot stems compared to dicots?
- Vascular bundles
- Cortex
- Vascular cambium leading to secondary growth
- Epidermis
Correct Answer: Vascular cambium leading to secondary growth
Q21. Which term describes nodes where leaves and branches originate?
- Internodes
- Axils
- Apices
- Nodes
Correct Answer: Nodes
Q22. What is tylosis formation associated with in woody stems?
- Phloem conduction enhancement
- Blockage of xylem vessels during heartwood formation
- Increase in stomatal density
- Formation of new leaves
Correct Answer: Blockage of xylem vessels during heartwood formation
Q23. Which of these is a diagnostic microscopic feature of stem bark used in pharmacognosy?
- Number of stomata
- Type of stomatal complex
- Arrangement of cork cells and presence of phloem fibers
- Presence of root hairs
Correct Answer: Arrangement of cork cells and presence of phloem fibers
Q24. What is the primary difference between primary and secondary xylem?
- Primary xylem lacks vessels
- Secondary xylem is produced by vascular cambium and contributes to wood
- Secondary xylem is only in monocots
- Primary xylem forms from cork cambium
Correct Answer: Secondary xylem is produced by vascular cambium and contributes to wood
Q25. Which stem modification helps vegetative propagation by producing plantlets at nodes?
- Tendril
- Stolon
- Bulb
- Cladode
Correct Answer: Stolon
Q26. In a young dicot stem, where is the pith located?
- Peripheral to cortex
- Central region of stem
- Between epidermis and cortex
- Surrounding vascular bundles
Correct Answer: Central region of stem
Q27. Which cell type in the stem is primarily responsible for photosynthesis in green stems?
- Sclerenchyma
- Collenchyma
- Chlorenchyma (parenchyma with chloroplasts)
- Tracheids
Correct Answer: Chlorenchyma (parenchyma with chloroplasts)
Q28. Which of the following stems is a modified underground storage organ formed from swollen stem base and scales?
- Taproot
- Bulb (e.g., onion)
- Tendril
- Stem thorn
Correct Answer: Bulb (e.g., onion)
Q29. What is the function of periderm in mature stems?
- Primary growth
- Photosynthesis
- Protective covering replacing epidermis
- Water conduction
Correct Answer: Protective covering replacing epidermis
Q30. Which vascular bundle type is described as ‘open’?
- Closed bundle lacking cambium
- Bundle with a cambium between xylem and phloem allowing secondary growth
- Bundle without phloem
- Bundle with only xylem vessels
Correct Answer: Bundle with a cambium between xylem and phloem allowing secondary growth
Q31. Which anatomical feature is used to distinguish stem from root in cross-section?
- Presence of root hairs
- Presence of pith and well-defined nodes
- Endodermis with Casparian strips
- An exarch xylem
Correct Answer: Presence of pith and well-defined nodes
Q32. In which plant is a stem tuber an economic source of starch?
- Potato
- Onion
- Carrot
- Banana
Correct Answer: Potato
Q33. Which feature is characteristic of climbing stems like vines?
- Prominent pith only
- Development of tendrils, twining or adventitious roots
- Thick cork layer for storage
- Absence of vascular bundles
Correct Answer: Development of tendrils, twining or adventitious roots
Q34. What is cork cambium (phellogen) responsible for producing?
- Secondary xylem
- Phelloderm towards inside and cork (phellem) outside
- Primary phloem
- Leaf primordia
Correct Answer: Phelloderm towards inside and cork (phellem) outside
Q35. Which stem feature often accumulates tannins and resins in medicinal woody plants?
- Epidermis
- Pith rays
- Heartwood
- Stomatal chamber
Correct Answer: Heartwood
Q36. What is a spur in fruit trees with respect to stems?
- A short lateral stem bearing flowers and fruits
- A root-derived storage organ
- A type of vascular bundle
- An adventitious bud on root
Correct Answer: A short lateral stem bearing flowers and fruits
Q37. Which statement about collenchyma in stems is true?
- Collenchyma cells are dead at maturity
- Collenchyma provides flexible mechanical support under epidermis
- Collenchyma stores starch
- Collenchyma is the main conducting tissue
Correct Answer: Collenchyma provides flexible mechanical support under epidermis
Q38. Which of the following is an aerial stem modification for storage found in cacti?
- Cladode
- Spine
- Sucker
- Taproot
Correct Answer: Cladode
Q39. What is the significance of nodes for herbal drug identification?
- Nodes never show any microscopic features
- Nodes may show leaf traces and bud characters useful in identification
- Nodes are identical across species
- Nodes are only relevant to root morphology
Correct Answer: Nodes may show leaf traces and bud characters useful in identification
Q40. In cross-section of a stem, what are medullary rays?
- Radial files of parenchyma connecting pith and cortex
- Bundles of xylem vessels only
- Layers of cork cells
- Outgrowths from epidermis
Correct Answer: Radial files of parenchyma connecting pith and cortex
Q41. Which type of stele is characteristic of many ferns and some stems?
- Protostele (solid core of xylem)
- Eustele (discrete vascular bundles ring)
- Atactostele (scattered bundles)
- Open collateral stele
Correct Answer: Protostele (solid core of xylem)
Q42. Which medicinal plant stem is commonly used as a source of quinine and has corky bark?
- Cinchona
- Digitalis
- Asparagus
- Mentha
Correct Answer: Cinchona
Q43. What is phyllotaxy in relation to stems?
- Type of storage tissue in stems
- Arrangement of leaves on a stem
- Vascular bundle pattern
- Type of stem modification
Correct Answer: Arrangement of leaves on a stem
Q44. Which cell type forms the sieve elements in phloem of stems?
- Tracheids
- Sieve tube elements and companion cells
- Sclereids
- Parenchyma only
Correct Answer: Sieve tube elements and companion cells
Q45. In which stem modification do buds occur on the surface and can develop into new plants, commonly used in horticulture?
- Tuber
- Stolon (runner)
- Corm
- Cormel
Correct Answer: Stolon (runner)
Q46. Which term describes the elongated region between two successive nodes?
- Axil
- Internode
- Node gap
- Pith cavity
Correct Answer: Internode
Q47. How is secondary thickening different in monocots compared to dicots?
- Monocots show typical vascular cambium activity like dicots
- Monocots rarely form a vascular cambium and usually lack secondary thickening
- Both have identical secondary thickening
- Secondary thickening in monocots occurs only in roots
Correct Answer: Monocots rarely form a vascular cambium and usually lack secondary thickening
Q48. What anatomical feature helps in identification of stem-derived drugs like liquorice (Glycyrrhiza) in powdered form?
- Presence of stomata fragments
- Characteristic stone cells, starch grains and vessel elements in stem powder
- Only leaf epidermal cells
- Presence of root hairs
Correct Answer: Characteristic stone cells, starch grains and vessel elements in stem powder
Q49. Which stem modification helps in vegetative propagation and is commonly used in grafting and layering?
- Tendril
- Sucker or sucker shoots
- Taproot
- Cladode
Correct Answer: Sucker or sucker shoots
Q50. In pharmacognosy, why is understanding stem morphology important?
- It helps in synthesizing drugs chemically
- It assists in microscopic identification, quality control and authentication of plant materials
- It is only of botanical interest without pharmaceutical relevance
- It replaces the need for chemical analysis
Correct Answer: It assists in microscopic identification, quality control and authentication of plant materials
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