Plant Diversity, Structure, and Function

These flashcards cover important vocabulary terms and concepts related to plant diversity, structure, and function as outlined in the lecture notes.

Plantae

The kingdom that includes all plants, characterized by being eukaryotic, multicellular, and primarily autotrophic.

Cellulose

A carbohydrate that makes up the cell walls of plants, providing structural support.

Alternation of Generations

A reproductive cycle in plants that alternates between a diploid sporophyte and a haploid gametophyte.

Vascular Tissue

Specialized tissue in vascular plants that transports water, minerals, and nutrients.

Nonvascular Plants

Plants that lack a vascular system, relying on diffusion for nutrient transport, e.g., mosses and liverworts.

Vascular Plants

Plants that possess vascular tissue for efficient transport of water and nutrients, e.g., ferns and flowering plants.

Monocots

Plants with one cotyledon, parallel leaf veins, and scattered vascular bundles; includes grasses and lilies.

Dicots (Eudicots)

Plants with two cotyledons, branched leaf veins, and a ring of vascular bundles; includes roses and beans.

Roots

Plant organs that anchor the plant and absorb water and nutrients from the soil.

Stems

Above-ground plant structures that support leaves and reproductive structures, and transport substances.

Leaves

Plant organs that carry out photosynthesis, gas exchange, and transpiration.

Sori

Clusters of sporangia on the undersides of fern leaves that produce spores for reproduction.

Gymnosperms

Seed plants that produce naked seeds not enclosed in fruits, e.g., conifers.

Angiosperms

Flowering plants that produce seeds enclosed in fruits and are characterized by a wide variety of forms.

Xylem

Vascular tissue responsible for transporting water and minerals from roots to shoots.

Phloem

Vascular tissue responsible for transporting sugars and organic compounds throughout the plant.

Cuticle

A waxy layer on the surface of leaves that reduces water loss.

Stomata

Small openings on the leaf surface that regulate gas exchange; surrounded by guard cells.

Taproot

A root system characterized by a single, thick main root with smaller lateral roots, typical in eudicots.

Fibrous Roots

Root system composed of many thin roots spreading out horizontally, typical of monocots.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose, primarily occurring in chloroplasts.