Question

Cattle or goats are never seen browsing on the weed, Calotropis. Select the correct option for the reason.

Options

• The plant produces highly poisonous tannins.

• The plant produces quinine, which is bitter in taste.

• The plant produces the poisonous chemical, cardiac glycoside.

• The plant bears prickles.

Answer 1

The plant produces the poisonous chemical, cardiac glycoside.

Explanation:

Calotropis (e.g., C. procera, C. gigantea) contains toxic cardenolide (cardiac glycoside) compounds such as calotropin and calotoxin in its milky latex. These compounds are bitter and cardiotoxic, so grazing animals (cattle, goats) generally avoid the plant.