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?
Pair I – Cassava: Woody shrub → Correct
Cassava (also called tapioca or manioc) is indeed a woody shrub cultivated for its starchy tuberous roots. Pair II – Ginger: Herb with pseudostem → Correct
Ginger is a herbaceous perennial with a pseudostem formed by leaf sheaths; the edible part is the rhizome. Pair III – Malabar spinach: Herbaceous climber → Correct
Malabar spinach (Basella alba) is a soft, herbaceous twining climber, commonly grown as a leafy vegetable. Pair IV – Mint: Annual shrub → Incorrect
Mint (Mentha spp.) is not a shrub; it is a perennial herb with soft stems, spreading by stolons. Pair V – Papaya: Woody shrub → Incorrect
Papaya (Carica papaya) is a herbaceous tree (giant herb), not a woody shrub—it has a soft, hollow stem.