Plants I

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to plant morphology, reproductive cycles, and adaptations of land plants based on the provided lecture notes.

Colonization of land

The process by which plants adapted to live on land, evolving various structures and mechanisms to overcome terrestrial challenges.

Streptophyta

A group that includes land plants and their closest relatives, characterized by synapomorphies like plasmodesmata and anisogamous reproduction.

Meristems

Regions of continuously growing tissues in plants responsible for growth and development.

Sporangia

Specialized structures in plants where spores are produced, facilitating reproduction.

Gametangia

Specialized reproductive structures in plants that produce gametes; includes antheridia and archegonia.

Alternation of generations

The plant life cycle involving a switch between haploid gametophytes and diploid sporophytes.

Rhizoids

Root-like structures in nonvascular plants that anchor the plant and absorb some water and nutrients.

Cuticle

A waxy coating on plant surfaces that reduces water loss and prevents desiccation.

Stomata

Small openings on the leaf surface that facilitate gas exchange for photosynthesis.

Xylem

Vascular tissue responsible for transporting water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant.

Phloem

Vascular tissue that transports sugars and nutrients produced by photosynthesis throughout the plant.

Homosporous

Describes plants that produce only one type of spore that develops into a single type of gametophyte.

Heterosporous

Describes plants that produce two types of spores (micro and mega spores) that develop into different types of gametophytes.

Gemmae

Multicellular disks of tissue in asexually reproducing liverworts that can develop into new gametophyte plants upon being dispersed.

Sori

Clusters of sporangia found on the underside of fern leaves, where meiosis occurs to produce spores.

Prothallus

The heart-shaped gametophyte of ferns that produces both male (antheridia) and female (archegonia) structures.