Which of the following substances is obtained from a tree ?
- (a)Asafoetida
- (b)Bitumen
- (c)Tincal
- (d)None of the above
Correct — A, Asafoetida. Asafoetida (Hindi hing) is a gum-oleo-resin obtained from the living taproot and rhizome of Ferula plants (mainly Ferula asafoetida), a perennial member of the celery/fennel family — it is the only plant-derived (botanical) substance among the options. Strictly, Ferula is a tall giant-fennel herb rather than a true tree, but it is unquestionably a vegetable/plant source, unlike the two mineral options, so it is the intended answer.
- (b)Bitumen — Bitumen is a sticky, black, semi-solid form of petroleum (a hydrocarbon/mineral product used in road-surfacing and waterproofing) — it does not come from a plant or tree.
- (c)Tincal — Tincal is crude/native borax (hydrated sodium borate), a mineral mined from dried lake beds — inorganic, not obtained from a tree.
- (d)None of the above — Asafoetida IS a plant product, so 'none of the above' is incorrect.
Natural substances can be classified by origin — plant, animal or mineral. Asafoetida is a gum-oleo-resin tapped from the roots of Ferula plants; bitumen is a petroleum-derived mineral hydrocarbon; and tincal is native borax, a mineral. The discriminator in this question is which item has a botanical (plant) source.
Find the biological source among mineral distractors. Even though 'tree' is loose (Ferula is a herb, not a tree), asafoetida is the only item of vegetable origin, so it is the answer bitumen and tincal are clearly mineral.
- Asafoetida (hing) — dried gum-oleo-resin from the taproot of Ferula asafoetida/Ferula foetida; India is the world's largest consumer, importing mostly from Afghanistan and Iran
- Bitumen — a viscous black hydrocarbon (petroleum residue) used for road-making and waterproofing; mineral origin
- Tincal — a naturally occurring crude form of borax (hydrated sodium borate); a mineral
- Origin — plant vs mineral — is the key to 'which is obtained from a tree/plant' questions
- Assuming hing comes from a tree — it is a herb's root gum-resin
- Confusing tincal (a borax mineral) with a plant product
- Thinking bitumen is an organic plant tar rather than a petroleum mineral
UPSC and UPPSC test 'source of a substance' — which is a plant product / obtained from a tree — so know that asafoetida, camphor and catechu are plant-derived while borax (tincal) and bitumen are mineral.
Consider the following : 1. Camphor 2. Chicory 3. Vanilla — Which of the above is/are plant product(s)?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer(d) 1, 2 and 3
Same concept — distinguishing plant-derived substances from non-plant ones. Camphor comes from the camphor tree just as asafoetida comes from the Ferula plant, testing knowledge of botanical sources.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Asafoetida (hing) is obtained from which part of the Ferula plant?
- (a)Flower
- (b)Taproot and rhizome
- (c)Seed
- (d)Bark
Answer(b) Taproot and rhizome — the gum-oleo-resin is tapped from the roots.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Tincal is a naturally occurring form of
- (a)borax
- (b)saltpetre
- (c)gypsum
- (d)alum
Answer(a) borax — a hydrated sodium-borate mineral.