Diversity of Autotrophs

Photosynthetic pigments

chemicals that absorb specific wavelengths of light depending on their chemical structure

gameophyte

a haploid phase of the cycle of viridiplantae that produces the gametes

sporophyte

diploid phase of the lifecycle of viridiplantae that produces the gametes

thallus

a flattened body from of the gameophyte

rhizoids

hair like structures that bind the thallus to the substrate

xylem

tissue that primarily carries water from the roots toward the leaves and is dead at functional maturity

phloem

tissue that primarily carries sugar from the leaves to the other tissues using hydrostatic pressure and is live at functional maturity

pollination

occurs when the male and female gameophytes unite