Overview of Plant Anatomy and Morphology

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on plant anatomy, morphology, physiology, and seeds.

Plant cell

Basic building block of plants; cells can specialize and, by grouping into tissues, support the plant.

Cell theory

All living things are made of cells; cells are the smallest living units; new cells come from pre-existing cells by division.

Cytology

The study of cells.

Histology

The study of tissues.

Tissue

A group of cells with the same function and origin that forms part of an organ.

Organ

A structure composed of tissues that performs a specific function.

Organ system

A group of organs that work together to perform a set of functions.

Dermal tissue

Outer tissue system forming the epidermis; in stems/leaves includes cuticle to prevent water loss and may have trichomes.

Epidermis

Outermost layer of cells in the dermal tissue.

Cuticle

Waxy layer on the epidermis that prevents water loss.

Trichomes

Hair-like outgrowths on the epidermis.

Vascular tissue

Tissue that conducts water and nutrients; consists of xylem and phloem.

Xylem

Vascular tissue that transports water and minerals from roots to shoots.

Phloem

Vascular tissue that transports sugars from leaves to other parts of the plant.

Ground tissue

Bulk tissue of inner parts; functions in metabolism, storage, and support.

Cortex

Outer region of ground tissue in stems; often stores nutrients.

Pith

Central region of stems; soft parenchyma that stores and transports nutrients.

Stem

Central axis of the plant, usually above ground; provides support and connects roots to leaves and flowers.

Node

Region on a stem where buds, leaves, or roots originate.

Internode

Segment of stem between two adjacent nodes.

Terminal bud

Apical bud at the tip of a stem responsible for primary growth.

Lateral bud (axillary bud)

Bud located in the axil that can form a new branch or flower.

Petiole

Stalk that attaches a leaf blade to the stem; leaves with a petiole are petiolate; without are sessile.

Pedicel

Stalk that attaches a single flower to the inflorescence; sessile flowers lack a pedicel.

Leaves

Photosynthetic organs; typically green and arise from nodes.

Flowers

Reproductive organs of flowering plants; highly variable in form.

Roots

Foundational part of the plant; anchor, absorb water and minerals, and may store nutrients.

Taproot

Main vertical root from the embryo; has lateral roots; common in dicots.

Adventitious roots

Roots that arise from non-radicle tissues (stem/leaf); common in monocots.

Fibrous roots

Network of slender, branched roots from the stem.

Prop roots

Adventitious roots from aerial parts providing extra support.

Stilt roots

Obliquely growing adventitious roots from lower stem nodes for support.

Buttress roots

Horizontal aerial roots at the base that provide stability.

Climbing roots

Adventitious roots that help plants climb structures.

Contractile roots

Underground roots that contract or swell to adjust depth for water uptake.

Floating roots

Roots that help plants float in water.

Root hair

Extensions of epidermal cells that absorb water and nutrients.

Seed

Embryo with protective coat and stored food; can germinate into a new plant.

Seed coat (testa)

Protective outer layer of a seed.

Embryo

Young plant inside the seed; includes radicle, plumule, and hypocotyl.

Radicle

The embryonic root that emerges during germination.

Plumule

The embryonic shoot that develops into the stem and leaves.

Hypocotyl

Stem region between the radicle and cotyledons; important in early seedling growth.

Cotyledon

Seed leaf; food storage; in dicots stores food in cotyledons, in monocots endosperm is primary storage.

Endosperm

Nutritive tissue in monocots that stores food for the developing embryo.

Seed dormancy

A state where seeds do not germinate despite suitable conditions due to coats, inhibitors, or immature embryos.

Imbibition

Water uptake by the seed that causes swelling and enzyme activation.

Germination

Process by which a seed resumes growth, including imbibition, metabolic activation, and radicle/plumule emergence.

Epigeal germination

Germination where cotyledons are raised above the soil surface due to elongated hypocotyl.

Hypogeal germination

Germination where cotyledons stay below the soil surface; germination involves epicotyl growth.

Vivipary

Seeds germinating while still attached to the parent plant (common in mangroves).

Gymnosperms

Seed-producing plants with naked seeds, usually borne in cones.

Angiosperms

Seed-producing plants with seeds enclosed in fruits and characterized by flowers.

Naked seeds

Seeds not enclosed in a fruit, as in gymnosperms.

Fruits

Mature ovary containing seeds in angiosperms.

Seed vs endosperm/cotyledons distinction

In monocots, endosperm is the main food source; in dicots, cotyledons store food.

Girdling

Cutting around a tree to remove phloem (and sometimes xylem), which can kill the tree.

Dicot

Angiosperm with two cotyledons; usually net-veined leaves and a ring arrangement of vascular tissue; often a taproot system.

Monocot

Angiosperm with one cotyledon; usually parallel veins and scattered vascular bundles with a fibrous root system.

Nucleus

Membrane-bound organelle containing the cell’s genetic material and nucleolus.

Nucleolus

Nucleus region where ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is synthesized.

Mitochondrion

Organelle that generates ATP through cellular respiration.

Chloroplast

Plastid that conducts photosynthesis and contains chlorophyll.

Amyloplast

Plastid that stores starch.

Large central vacuole

Vacuole important for storage and maintaining turgor in plant cells.

Golgi apparatus

Organelle that processes and packages proteins and lipids for secretion or delivery.

Rough ER

Endoplasmic reticulum with ribosomes; synthesizes proteins.

Smooth ER

Endoplasmic reticulum lacking ribosomes; synthesizes lipids and detoxification.

Cytoplasm

Internal cell fluid containing organelles and cytosol where metabolic activities occur.