Reference Variable in Java?

Question

My doubt is the reference variable 'r' which was referencing rose object is now referencing flower object.

What happend to rose object now? Will it be destroyed?

I have the following code:

class Flower
{
public void smell()     // I
{
   System.out.println("All flowers give smell, if you can smell");
}
}   
public class Rose extends Flower
{
public void smell()     // II
{
   System.out.println("Rose gives rosy smell");
}
public static void main(String args[])
{
   Flower f = new Flower();
   Rose r = new Rose();

   f = r;             // subclass to super class, it is valid
   f.smell();           // II

 }
}

Answer 1

It is Flower object which is eligible for garbage collection. Rose object is still referred by both reference variable which is f and r.

Answer 2

Here you have assigned the rose to the f variable. This means that the instance of flower is now ready to be destroyed (garbaged collected).

f contains the rose, so f.smell() will result in Rose gives rosy smell.