Illinois Pesticide Applicator Practice Test

Which of the following is an example of a biennial plant life cycle?

1. Grows and flowers annually

2. Grows, then goes dormant for a winter

3. Flowers and sets seeds repeatedly

4. Grows vegetatively for one year and flowers the next

The correct answer is: Grows vegetatively for one year and flowers the next

A biennial plant life cycle is characterized by the plant taking two years to complete its life cycle. In the first year, biennial plants typically focus on vegetative growth, developing a rosette of leaves and a strong root system. During the second year, they undergo flowering and seed production before dying. This means that the correct answer describes precisely this pattern: the plant grows vegetatively in the first year and then flowers in the following year. The other options depict different growth patterns that do not align with the biennial cycle. For instance, a plant that grows and flowers annually represents an annual life cycle, where the plant completes its entire life cycle within a single growing season. A plant that grows and goes dormant for a winter could represent either an annual or a perennial plant, rather than the specific two-year cycle of a biennial. Lastly, a plant that flowers and sets seeds repeatedly describes a perennial life cycle, where the plant can flower and produce seeds in multiple growing seasons.