Correct Answer - Option 4 : 1, 3 and 4
The correct answer is 1, 3 and 4.
- The ferns are most commonly plants of shaded damp forests of both temperate and tropical zones.
- Some fern species grow equally well on soil and upon rocks; others are confined strictly to rocky habitats, where they occur in fissures and crevices of cliff faces, boulders, and taluses.
- Acidic rocks such as granites, sandstones, and quartzites are associated with characteristic fern species different from those of alkaline rocks such as calcites and dolomites. A few species appear to be confined to serpentine and related rocks.
- In the tropics, as many as two-thirds of the ferns of an area may grow as epiphytes on the shaded lower trunks and branches or in the crowns of trees Hence 1 is correct.
- Moss is a small flowerless green plant that lacks true roots, growing in damp habitats and reproducing by means of spores released from stalked capsules.
- Moss grows on any substrate. Soil helps increase humidity, but it has no nutrient value for moss.
- As moss has rhizoids, anything it can attach its rhizoids to is a suitable base. It will grow without soil. Hence 3 is correct.
- Mushroom, the conspicuous umbrella-shaped fruiting body (sporophore) of certain fungi.
- Mushrooms can form a symbiotic relationship with trees. Mushrooms can also be grown hydroponically as fungi. Hence 4 is correct.
- Lichens are a complex life form that is a symbiotic partnership of two separate organisms, a fungus and an alga.
- The dominant partner is the fungus, which gives the lichen the majority of its characteristics, from its thallus shape to its fruiting bodies.
- The alga can be either a green alga or a blue-green alga, otherwise known as cyanobacteria.
- The most common natural substrates are trees, rocks, and soil.
-
Soil is another important substrate for lichens. It provides moisture, nutrients, space to grow, and depending on the location, shelter as well. Hence 2 is incorrect.
