Intro to the Plant Kingdom Flashcards

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the history, evolutionary adaptations, general features, and classifications of the Plant Kingdom as detailed in the lecture notes.

First land plants

Appeared during the Ordovician period, approximately $500$ million years ago.

First forests

Appeared by $385$ million years ago, consisting of different species than those of today.

Plant species count

There are more than $325,000$ known plant species today, with most living on land.

Cuticle

A plant adaptation used to reduce water loss, which is not needed by aquatic algae.

Stomata

Specialized structures in land plants used for gas exchange, whereas algae perform this through their entire body.

Vascular tissue

Tissue responsible for transport in land plants, replacing the cell-to-cell diffusion found in algae.

Charophytes

Green algae that share a most recent common ancestor with plants.

Alternation of generations

A life cycle involving the alternation of a diploid ($2n$) spore-producing generation and a haploid ($n$) gamete-producing generation.

Gametophytic generation

The haploid ($n$) generation that produces gametes; it is initiated by meiosis.

Sporophytic generation

The diploid ($2n$) generation that produces spores; it is initiated by fertilization.

Embryophytes

A term for plants referring to their multicellular embryos that are dependent on the parent and protected within female gametophyte tissue.

Sporangia

Multicellular organs in the sporophyte where spores are produced.

Sporopollenin

A polymer found in spore walls that makes them resistant to harsh environments.

Apical Meristems

Localized regions of continuous cell division at the tips of roots and shoots that enable growth.

Phylum Hepatophyta

The phylum of nonvascular plants known as Liverworts, containing $9,000$ known species.

Phylum Bryophyta

The phylum of nonvascular plants known as Mosses, containing $13,000$ known species.

Phylum Anthocerophyta

The phylum of nonvascular plants known as Hornworts, containing $225$ known species.

Phylum Anthophyta

The phylum of flowering plants (Angiosperms), containing approximately $290,000$ known species.

Rhizoids

Structures used for anchorage in non-vascular plants, which lack true roots, stems, and leaves.

Archegonia

The structures within the gametophytic plant where eggs are produced.

Antheridia

The structures within the gametophytic plant where sperms are produced.

Xylem

Vascular tissue in Pteridophyta and other vascular plants that conducts water and minerals.

Phloem

Vascular tissue in Pteridophyta and other vascular plants that conducts sugars.

Frond

The specific term for a leaf of a fern.

Sori

Clusters of spore-producing structures located on the sporophytic fern plant.

Prothallus

The gametophytic plant in the fern life cycle which produces eggs in archegonia and sperms in antheridia.

Strobili

Clusters of sporophylls found in plants like Lycophytes and Lycopods.