Plant Structure and Function

Flashcards covering essential vocabulary related to plant structure and function, including vascular and non-vascular tissues, hormones, growth processes, and nutrient cycles.

Monocot

A type of flowering plant that has one cotyledon.

Dicot

A type of flowering plant that has two cotyledons.

Vascular cambium

A layer of meristematic cells that divide to form new xylem and phloem cells.

Xylem

Vascular tissue responsible for the transport of water and nutrients upward from the roots.

Phloem

Vascular tissue responsible for the transport of sugars and other metabolic products downward from the leaves.

Sieve cells

Cells in gymnosperms' phloem that have narrow pores and are involved in sugar transport.

Sieve tube elements

Cells in angiosperms' phloem that lack organelles and transport sugars with the help of companion cells.

Turgor

The pressure exerted by the fluid in the vacuole against the cell wall, supporting plant structure.

Capillary action

The ability of water to rise up against gravity through narrow spaces in plants.

Stolons

Modified stems that grow horizontally along the ground.

Translocation

The long-distance transport of sugars through the phloem from source to sink.

Macronutrients

Nutrients required in large quantities, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Micronutrients

Nutrients required in small quantities, such as boron, iron, and zinc.

Nitrogen Cycle

The series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are interconverted in the environment and in living organisms.

Auxins

Plant hormones that regulate growth, particularly in stems and roots.

Gibberellins

Plant hormones that promote stem elongation and seed germination.

Cytokinins

Hormones that promote cell division and growth in plants.

Ethylene

A plant hormone that regulates fruit ripening and other processes.

Abscisic Acid

A plant hormone that inhibits growth and helps close stomata during drought.