Angiosperms

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to angiosperms, their characteristics, and diversity. Focus on the unique features of flowers, fruits, and reproductive strategies, as well as a comparison between monocots and eudicots.

Angiosperms

Flowering plants characterized by key innovations like flowers, fruits, and double fertilization, constituting over 90% of plant diversity.

Synapomorphic Traits (Angiosperms)

Flowers and fruits are unique characteristics in all angiosperm species, providing reproductive advantages in pollination and seed dispersal.

Carpel

A modified leaf in angiosperms that encloses the ovules and seeds, providing protection and promoting cross-pollination.

Double Fertilization

A process in angiosperms resulting in a 2n zygote and a 3n endosperm, crucial for seedling development.

Vessel Elements

Specialized water-transporting cells found in the xylem of angiosperms.

Companion Cell

A unique cell type in the phloem of angiosperms.

Flower

A key characteristic of angiosperms, involved in pollination and exhibiting astonishing diversity due to coevolution with pollinators.

Inflorescence

A group of flowers arranged on a stem, common in angiosperms like the Carrot and Grass families.

Stamen

The pollen-bearing part of the flower, consisting of a filament and anther.

Pistil

Formed by one or more carpels, consisting of stigma, style, and ovary.

Petals (Corolla) & Sepals (Calyx)

Flower parts that together form the perianth, often playing roles in attracting animal pollinators.

Perfect Flower

Flowers that have both mega- and microsporangia (hermaphrodites).

Imperfect Flower

Flowers that have either mega- or microsporangia (single sex).

Monoecious

Plants with male and female flowers on the same plant.

Dioecious

Plants with male and female flowers on different plants.

Monocots

A major group of angiosperms including grasses and petaloid monocots, representing about 30% of angiosperm diversity.

Eudicots

A major group of angiosperms, constituting about 70% of angiosperm diversity; many are important in terrestrial ecosystems.

Wolffia

A genus in the Araceae family, notable for having the smallest flowers of any flowering plant, and is often mistaken for algae.

Rafflesia arnoldii

Also known as the 'corpse flower', the parasitic plant with the biggest flower in the world, smells like rotting meat to attract flies to pollinate it and grows on roots of the vine Tetrastigma.

Vascular Bundles (Monocots)

Scattered throughout the stem.

Vascular Bundles (Eudicots)

Ringed the outside of the stem.