Indian Forest Service Examination (IFoS) — Forestry optional · India · Union Public Service Commission
Original practice questions written to the published syllabus · not past papersPlant morphology, anatomy and the classification systems used to name and identify forest plants, from gymnosperms to the major angiosperm families of tropical and temperate forests.
In the exams: Background to ICAR AIEEA-PG Group 09 (dendrology) and IFoS Forestry Paper II Section B (forest ecology and ethnobotany)
How our questions for Indian Forest Service Examination spread across the units of Forest Botany & Plant Systematics. Difficulty: 1 easy, 10 medium, 9 hard.
| Gymnosperms: Pinaceae, Cupressaceae, Araucariaceae, Podocarpaceae | 3 | |
| Major angiosperm forest families: Fabaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Myrtaceae, Lamiaceae, Meliaceae, Fagaceae | 3 | |
| Plant cell, tissues and secondary growth | 2 | |
| Morphology of root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit and seed | 2 | |
| Principles of plant nomenclature and the International Code (ICN) | 2 | |
| Classification systems: Bentham & Hooker, Engler, APG | 2 | |
| Herbarium technique and plant collection | 2 | |
| Floras, keys and botanical databases | 2 | |
| Ethnobotany: concepts and methods | 2 |
Choose an answer, then open the working. Each explanation says why the right answer is right and why the others are not.
Winged fruits of dipterocarps develop their wings from:
D. Enlarged persistent sepals
The name means two-winged fruit; the wings are accrescent sepals.
Further reading: Simpson, Plant Systematics (3rd ed., 2019); Judd et al., Plant Systematics (4th ed., 2016); Evert, Esau's Plant Anatomy (3rd ed., 2006)
In Bentham and Hooker's system, gymnosperms are placed:
A. Between dicots and monocots
This placement is a known weakness of the system.
Further reading: Simpson, Plant Systematics (3rd ed., 2019); Judd et al., Plant Systematics (4th ed., 2016); Evert, Esau's Plant Anatomy (3rd ed., 2006)
Under APG, Bombax and Sterculia are placed in:
C. Malvaceae
Bombacaceae, Tiliaceae and Sterculiaceae were merged into Malvaceae.
Further reading: Simpson, Plant Systematics (3rd ed., 2019); Judd et al., Plant Systematics (4th ed., 2016); Evert, Esau's Plant Anatomy (3rd ed., 2006)
The anticancer drug paclitaxel (taxol) was first isolated from:
D. Yew (Taxus)
Pacific yew bark yielded taxol; Himalayan yew has been heavily exploited.
Further reading: Simpson, Plant Systematics (3rd ed., 2019); Judd et al., Plant Systematics (4th ed., 2016); Evert, Esau's Plant Anatomy (3rd ed., 2006)
Under current names, babul (formerly Acacia nilotica) is:
C. Vachellia nilotica
Many African-Asian acacias moved to Vachellia (babul) and Senegalia (khair).
Further reading: Simpson, Plant Systematics (3rd ed., 2019); Judd et al., Plant Systematics (4th ed., 2016); Evert, Esau's Plant Anatomy (3rd ed., 2006)
Which information is lost when a specimen dries and must be noted in the field?
A. Flower colour and bark
Colours, bark, blaze, exudate, smell and tree size cannot be seen on the sheet.
Further reading: Simpson, Plant Systematics (3rd ed., 2019); Judd et al., Plant Systematics (4th ed., 2016); Evert, Esau's Plant Anatomy (3rd ed., 2006)
Why should collecting in protected areas follow permit and benefit-sharing rules?
B. Access is legally regulated
Biodiversity and protected-area laws govern collection and use.
Further reading: Simpson, Plant Systematics (3rd ed., 2019); Judd et al., Plant Systematics (4th ed., 2016); Evert, Esau's Plant Anatomy (3rd ed., 2006)
A monograph differs from a flora in that it:
C. It covers one taxon fully
Floras cover areas; monographs cover taxa; checklists list names.
Further reading: Simpson, Plant Systematics (3rd ed., 2019); Judd et al., Plant Systematics (4th ed., 2016); Evert, Esau's Plant Anatomy (3rd ed., 2006)
Why should a forester state which database's names were followed in a report?
C. Databases differ in accepted names
Recent taxonomic changes are adopted unevenly.
Further reading: Simpson, Plant Systematics (3rd ed., 2019); Judd et al., Plant Systematics (4th ed., 2016); Evert, Esau's Plant Anatomy (3rd ed., 2006)
Why must documentation of traditional knowledge follow community consent?
D. Disclosure can harm communities
Ethics and law require prior informed consent and respect for wishes.
Further reading: Simpson, Plant Systematics (3rd ed., 2019); Judd et al., Plant Systematics (4th ed., 2016); Evert, Esau's Plant Anatomy (3rd ed., 2006)
Ten here, 20 in the app. The Laisha app has every practice question we have written to Indian Forest Service Examination in this subject, marked as you go, with timed papers, a jump-to-unanswered list and a certificate when you pass at 70 per cent.
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