Which life-cycle completes in one year?

• A. Seasonal life cycle
• B. Biennial life cycle
• C. Perennial life cycle
• D. Annual life cycle

Answer: (D)

A plant’s life cycle length is defined by how long it takes to go from germination through flowering, seed production, and death. When this sequence is completed within a single growing season, the plant is considered an annual. That means you plant it, it grows, it reproduces, and it dies all within one year. The other patterns require more time: biennials typically need two years to complete their life cycle (usually vegetative growth in the first year and flowering in the second), and perennials live for multiple years, often flowering and continuing to grow for many seasons. The one-year completion pattern is the hallmark of an annual.