A plant whose stem is soft and not heavily reinforced is classified as what?

A plant whose stem is soft and not heavily reinforced is classified as what?

• A. Tree
• B. Shrub
• C. An herb
• D. Grass

Answer: (C)

Stems can be woody or herbaceous. A soft, not heavily reinforced stem means the plant is herbaceous—lacking the thick, lignified tissue that makes woody stems strong. Trees and shrubs have these woody stems that stay rigid and structural year after year. Grasses are typically herbaceous too, but in this context the broader category used is an herb, which describes non-woody plants with flexible stems. So the described plant fits the herb classification because its stems are soft and not reinforced with wood.

Stems can be woody or herbaceous. A soft, not heavily reinforced stem means the plant is herbaceous—lacking the thick, lignified tissue that makes woody stems strong. Trees and shrubs have these woody stems that stay rigid and structural year after year. Grasses are typically herbaceous too, but in this context the broader category used is an herb, which describes non-woody plants with flexible stems. So the described plant fits the herb classification because its stems are soft and not reinforced with wood.