This was the less popular question in this section. Most candidates could not correctly name the type of fruits in specimens A and B. Some wrote that specimen A is a succulent, true fruit
While specimen B is a dry indehiscent fruit. Some candidates who got the correct answer missed the mark because of wrong spellings. The expected answers were:
Specimen A/Garden egg is a Berry
Specimen B/Tridax fruit is a Cypsela.
They could not state the reasons correctly.
Expected answers include:
A/Berry- it has a fleshy pericarp with many seeds embedded in it.
B/Cypsela - fruit bears a hairy calyx/hairy pappus/parachute;
- dry single seeded fruit.
Most candidates performed fairly in the diagram of specimen B/Tridax but did not show the rachis of the pappus with double lines and did not conform to size specifications. This led to them scoring low marks.
Only few candidates could correctly state the modes of dispersal of specimens A and B and correctly state five differences between the specimens. Expected answers include:
b)(i) Modes of dispersal
A/Garden Egg
The fruit is soft and edible;
Man and animals eat the soft pericarp;
The seeds are spat out /egested /scattered.
B/ Tridax
- Feathery papus traps air;
- this increases the surface area of the fruit with respect to the volume;
- so reduces the weight of the fruit;
- to be blown and dispersed by the wind;
- tough (dry) pericarp protect the seed embryo.
Differences between specimens A and B
Specimen A(Garden Egg) Specimen B(Tridax Fruit)
- Fleshy pericarp Dry pericarp;
- Smooth epicarp/fruitwall Hairy epicarp;
- No pappus Pappus present;
- Calyx beneath fruit Calyx (pappus) on top of fruit;
- Calyx present Calyx modified into pappus;
- Large fruit Small fruit;
- Heavy fruit Light (in weight) fruit;
- Green/white/yellow in colour Brown in colour.
