Consider the following pairs:
| Plant | Description |
| Cassava | Woody shrub |
| Ginger | Herb with pseudostem |
| Malabar spinach | Herbaceous climber |
| Mint | Annual shrub |
| Papaya | Woody shrub |
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
- Only two
- Only three
- Only four
- All the five
Explanation
Cassava is a Woody shrub
- Cassava is a woody shrub with tuberous roots belonging to the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). Native to South America, it is widely cultivated as an annual crop in many tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The crop was introduced from Brazil into India by the Portuguese during the 17th century.
Ginger is an herb with a pseudostem
- Ginger is a herbaceous plant in which what appears to be a stem is actually a pseudostem, formed by rolled leaf bases. It is believed to be native to southern China, Southeast Asia, and India.
Malabar spinach is a herbaceous climber
- Malabar spinach is a fast-growing, soft-stemmed vine, a herbaceous climber. It is native to the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and New Guinea.
Mint is not an annual shrub
- Mint is a perennial herb, not a shrub. It spreads through runners and has soft, non-woody stems.
Papaya is not a woody shrub
- Papaya is a herbaceous plant, despite its tree-like appearance. It has a soft, hollow stem and is not woody. It is native to Central America and is grown in tropical and warmer subtropical areas worldwide. It was introduced to India by the Portuguese.
