Select a pair of bisexual flowers from the following:
Select a pair of bisexual flowers from the following:
Options
B
Hint
The NCERT text gives one direct example each of a unisexual pair and a bisexual pair of flowers — recall which plants were named for each category.
Analysis & Explanation
The NCERT chapter states directly: "The flower may be unisexual (papaya, watermelon) when it contains either stamens or pistil or bisexual (Hibiscus, mustard) when it contains both stamens and pistil."
A bisexual (or hermaphrodite) flower contains both the male reproductive part (stamen) and the female reproductive part (pistil) in the same flower, whereas a unisexual flower contains only one of the two.
According to the text, Hibiscus and mustard are the named examples of bisexual flowers, making option B correct.
Why the distractors are wrong:
- Option A (Papaya and mustard): Papaya is explicitly named as an example of a unisexual flower (it bears only stamens or only pistil in a given flower), so pairing it with mustard (bisexual) is inconsistent — one is unisexual, one is bisexual, not "a pair of bisexual flowers."
- Option C (Hibiscus and papaya): Hibiscus is bisexual but papaya is unisexual per the text, so this is a mixed pair, not both bisexual.
- Option D (Hibiscus and watermelon): Hibiscus is bisexual, but watermelon is explicitly listed alongside papaya as unisexual, so this pair is also mixed.
Common Mistakes
- 1Assuming any large, showy flower is automatically bisexual without checking the specific examples the NCERT text names.
- 2Mixing up papaya/watermelon (unisexual) with Hibiscus/mustard (bisexual) since both pairs are mentioned in the very same sentence of the text.
Interesting Facts
In unisexual flowers, plants often rely on cross-pollination between separate male and female flowers (sometimes even on separate plants, as in papaya), which the chapter notes increases genetic variation compared to self-pollination.
Bisexual flowers like Hibiscus can, in principle, self-pollinate since both stamens and pistil are present in the same flower, though many still favour cross-pollination via agents like insects.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2025?
This question carries 1 mark in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2025 examination.
Which chapter does this question come from in Science?
This question is from the chapter "How do Organisms Reproduce?" in the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus.
What topic does this question cover in Science?
This question covers the topic "Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants" from CBSE Class 10 Science.
What type of question is this in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2025 paper?
This is a MCQ question from Section A in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2025 paper.