Question 72 from UPSC CSE 2025 - Basic Science

Question

Consider the following pairs:
1. Cassava - Woody shrub
2. Ginger - Herb with pseudostem
3. Malabar spinach - Herbaceous climber
4. Mint - Annual shrub
5. Papaya - Woody shrub
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. Only three

Strategy: Quickly scan for plant type descriptors in each pair and cross-check against basic botany knowledge. The pairs 'Mint - Annual shrub' and 'Papaya - Woody shrub' raise red flags, since mint is a perennial herb, not a shrub, and papaya is a large herbaceous plant, not a woody shrub. Confirm that Cassava is a woody shrub, Ginger is a herb with a pseudostem, and Malabar spinach is a herbaceous climber. Eliminate the incorrect pairs and count the correctly matched ones.

Key Info: Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is recognized as a perennial woody shrub grown for its edible starchy tuberous roots, commonly known as tapioca in India. It has a true woody stem and is extensively cultivated in tropical regions for food security purposes.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a perennial herb belonging to the Zingiberaceae family. Its leafy shoot forms a pseudostem composed of leaf sheaths, and its edible part is an underground rhizome. Ginger prefers warm, humid climates and is globally renowned for culinary and medicinal properties.

Malabar spinach (Basella alba) is a fast-growing, herbaceous, perennial climber from South Asia. It is neither a shrub nor a tree but an herbaceous vine, producing succulent, mucilaginous leaves commonly used as leafy greens in Indian and Southeast Asian cuisines.

Mint (Mentha spp.) comprises a genus of aromatic perennial herbs, notably spreading via creeping rhizomes. Mint plants are not annuals nor are they shrubs; their soft, green, non-woody stems persist for years under suitable conditions. Common species include spearmint, peppermint, and wild mint.

Papaya (Carica papaya) is botanically an herbaceous plant, despite its tree-like appearance. Its trunk remains soft and lacks true woody tissue. Native to Central America and grown worldwide, papaya's stem is hollow, and the plant produces fruit within a year of growth, distinguishing it from woody perennials.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: Only two

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Only four

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: All five

Consider the following pairs: 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?

Consider the following pairs:

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?