Consider the following trees:
1. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)
2. Mahua (Madhuca indica)
3. Teak (Tectona grandis)
How many of the above are deciduous trees?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
3. Ans: b
Explanation:
Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests:
These forests are found in areas of moderate rainfall of 100 to 200 cm per annum, mean annual temperature of about 270C and the average annual relative humidity of 60 to 75 per cent. The trees of these forests drop their leaves for about 6-8 weeks during the spring and early summer when sufficient moisture for the leaves is not available. The main species found in these forests are teak, sal, padauk, laurel, white chuglam, badam, dhup, chikrosi, kokko, haldu, rosewood, mahua, bijasal, lendi, semul, irul, dhaman, amla, kusum, bamboo etc.
Tropical Rain Forests
Cauliflory or bearing of flowers and fruits on the trunk of the tree rather than at the ends of branches is a characteristic of Rain forest, the advantage is that the plant can produce larger, heavier fruits, the biggest of all such cauliflorous fruits is Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus). Jack fruit probably originated in Rain forest which once covered Southern India, currently cultivated throughout southeastern Asia.
Hence, option b is correct.
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