UPSC Prelim 2025 Paper I

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

Verified Answer
A. Only two
B. Only three
C. Only four
D. All the five

Explanation:

I. Cassava : Woody shrub: Correct. Cassava plants are typically woody shrubs or small trees. II. Ginger : Herb with pseudostem: Correct. Ginger is a herbaceous plant that forms a pseudostem from the sheathing leaf bases. III. Malabar spinach : Herbaceous climber: Correct. Malabar spinach is a leafy vine that grows as a herbaceous climber. IV. Mint : Annual shrub: Incorrect. Mint is a herbaceous perennial, not an annual shrub. It regrows each year from its underground rhizomes. V. Papaya : Woody shrub: Incorrect. Papaya is botanically considered a large herbaceous plant or a giant herb, not a woody shrub or tree, as its stem lacks true woody tissue and secondary growth. Explanation: Three pairs (I, II, III) are correctly matched.