2002 AIPMT Anatomy of Flowering PlantsXylem: Vessels Medium Question 81 of 86 in Anatomy of Flowering Plants

Vessels are found in : -

A All angiosperms and some gymnosperms
B Most of the angiosperms and few gymnosperms
C All angiosperms, all gymnosperms and some pteridophyta
D All pteridophyta

The answer is B.

Solution

Vessels are long tube-like elements of xylem formed by fusion of cells end to end; they are characteristic of angiosperms.
However, some primitive angiosperms such as Wintera, Trochodendron and Tetracentron lack vessels (vesselless angiosperms). So vessels are present in most, not all, angiosperms.
Among gymnosperms, vessels are found only in a few members of the order Gnetales (Gnetum, Ephedra, Welwitschia). Most gymnosperms have only tracheids.
So vessels are found in most of the angiosperms and a few gymnosperms.

Concept Distribution of vessels

Anatomy of Flowering Plants in past papers

86 questions from this chapter have appeared across 26 exam years.