UPSC Prelims 2025Question 39Environment

Consider the following pairs:
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched? Plant — Description; I. Cassava — Woody shrub; II. Ginger — Herb with pseudostem; III. Malabar spinach — Herbaceous climber; IV. Mint — Annual shrub; V. Papaya — Woody shrub

Options

Correct answer: b

Decision rule

Test woodiness, not height: a plant with a soft, hollow or leaf-sheath stem is herbaceous however tall; only lignified stems make a shrub.

(b) Only three

Let’s evaluate each pair:

Cassava – Woody shrub
- Correct. Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a woody shrub native to South America and cultivated for its edible starchy tuberous root.
Ginger – Herb with pseudostem
- Correct. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a herbaceous plant with a pseudostem formed from tightly rolled leaf bases.
Malabar spinach – Herbaceous climber
- Correct. Malabar spinach (Basella alba) is a fast-growing, soft-stemmed, herbaceous climber, often grown in tropical regions.
Mint – Annual shrub
- Incorrect. Mint (Mentha spp.) is not a shrub. It is a herbaceous perennial plant, meaning it is not annual and not woody like a shrub.
Papaya – Woody shrub
- Incorrect. Papaya (Carica papaya) is not a woody shrub, but rather a herbaceous tree-like plant with a soft, hollow stem. Despite its size, it is not technically woody.

(a) Only two – Incorrect, because three pairs are correctly matched (I, II, III).
(c) Only four – Incorrect, as only three are correct.
(d) All five – Incorrect, as Mint and Papaya are incorrectly matched.

Plant	Claimed Description	Actual Nature	Correctly Matched?
Cassava	Woody shrub	Woody shrub	Yes
Ginger	Herb with pseudostem	Herb with pseudostem	Yes
Malabar spinach	Herbaceous climber	Herbaceous climber	Yes
Mint	Annual shrub	Perennial herb	No
Papaya	Woody shrub	Herbaceous plant (tree-like, not woody)	No

Woody vs Herbaceous Plants:
- Woody: Have lignified stems (trees, shrubs).
- Herbaceous: Soft stems, usually die back after growing season.
Pseudostem: A false stem made from leaf sheaths, common in banana and ginger.
Shrub vs Herb:
- Shrubs: Woody and perennials, usually under 6 meters.
- Herbs: Soft-stemmed, can be annual or perennial.

Questions like these test basic botany knowledge, often relevant for topics in agriculture, biodiversity, and NCERT-based science.
With increased emphasis on plant-based economies and food security, understanding crops like cassava and papaya is important in prelims preparation.

Plant	Scientific Name	Type	Lifespan	Stem Type	Correct Description
Cassava	Manihot esculenta	Shrub (Woody)	Perennial	Woody, branched	Woody shrub
Ginger	Zingiber officinale	Herb	Perennial	Herbaceous pseudostem (from leaf sheaths)	Herb with pseudostem
Malabar Spinach	Basella alba	Herbaceous climber	Perennial (in tropics) / Annual (in temperate zones)	Succulent and non-woody	Herbaceous climber
Mint	Mentha spp.	Herb	Perennial	Herbaceous, creeping rhizomes	Perennial herb (Not shrub)
Papaya	Carica papaya	Herbaceous tree-like plant	Short-lived perennial (3–4 years)	Hollow, soft herbaceous trunk	Herbaceous plant (Not woody shrub)

Term	Meaning
Shrub	A woody plant smaller than a tree, usually with multiple stems.
Herb	A plant with no persistent woody stem above ground.
Perennial	A plant that lives more than two years.
Annual	A plant that completes its life cycle in one growing season.
Pseudostem	A false stem formed by the overlapping leaf sheaths (e.g., ginger, banana).
Herbaceous Climber	A soft-stemmed plant that climbs using tendrils or twining habit.