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A biology student hiking in a forest happens upon an erect, 15-cm-tall plant that bears microphylls and a strobilus at its tallest point. When disturbed, the cone emits a dense cloud of brownish dust. A pocket magnifying glass reveals the dust to be composed of tiny spheres with a high oil content.
-Besides oil, what other chemical should be detected in substantial amounts upon chemical analysis of these small spheres?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of a strobilus and the release of brownish dust suggest that this plant is a type of seedless vascular plant known as a club moss. Club moss spores are coated with sporopollenin, a tough polymer that helps protect the spores from environmental stressors. Therefore, upon chemical analysis of these tiny spheres, sporopollenins should be detected in substantial amounts.

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