Question

My friend Prakash has a beautiful garden in his house with a lot of ornamental plants, including a section of rose plants and cacti growing in it. On a morning walk, Prakash tried to pluck a rose flower and got hurt by a thorn present on the twig of the plant. He soon started thinking about the beauty of rose flowers, but was not able to understand the presence of thorns over them. He soon approached his father (who is a horticulturist) to resolve his curiosity. Can you feel how his father explained and solved his curiosity?

Answer 1

1. Prakash’s horticulturist father explained that the thorns on rose plants serve as a natural defense mechanism.
2. These thorns protect the plant from herbivores and animals that may try to eat or damage the plant.
3. Though rose flowers are beautiful, their thorns prevent animals and humans from easily plucking or harming the delicate parts of the plant. This adaptation helps the plant survive and reproduce by deterring threats.
4. Thus, the thorns are an essential morphological feature for the plant’s protection, ensuring the plant’s safety and longevity despite attractive flowers. This explanation clarifies the role of thorns in the garden’s rose plants.