Plant and Fungal Reproduction: Key Terms and Dispersal Methods

Achene

A small, dry, one-seeded fruit that doesn't open at maturity.

Anemochory

Seed dispersal by wind.

Anemophily

Pollination by wind.

Annulus

A ring of cells on a fern sporangium that helps release spores.

Anther

The pollen-producing part of the stamen.

Antheridiophore

Stalk in some bryophytes that bears antheridia (male sex organs).

Antheridium

Male reproductive organ that produces sperm in plants, algae, and fungi.

Apothecium

Cup-shaped fruiting body in some fungi or lichens that produces spores.

Archegoniophore

Stalk in some bryophytes that bears archegonia (female sex organs).

Archegonium

Female reproductive organ that produces eggs.

Ascocarp

Fruiting body of Ascomycota fungi containing asci.

Ascospores

Sexual spores formed in an ascus.

Ascus

Sac-like structure in Ascomycota fungi where ascospores develop.

Aseptate

Hyphae without cross walls (septa); continuous cytoplasm.

Asexual spores

Spores formed without fertilization; produce identical offspring.

Autochory

Seed dispersal by the plant itself (self-dispersal).

Basidia

Club-shaped cells in Basidiomycota fungi that produce basidiospores.

Basidiocarp

Fruiting body of a Basidiomycota fungus (e.g., mushroom).

Basidiospores

Spores formed on basidia during sexual reproduction in Basidiomycota.

Berry

Fleshy fruit with one or more seeds surrounded by pulp (e.g., tomato, grape).

Buzz pollination

Pollination by vibration, when bees shake pollen loose from flowers.

Cap

The top part of a mushroom that supports the gills.

Chiropterophily

Pollination by bats.

Coenocytic

Having many nuclei within a continuous cytoplasm; no septa.

Conidia

Asexual fungal spores formed externally on conidiophores.

Conidiophores

Specialized fungal hyphae that bear conidia.

Conidiospores

Another name for conidia; asexual fungal spores.

Crustose

Crust-like form of lichen tightly attached to a surface.

Diploid

Having two sets of chromosomes (2n).

Diploid gametophyte

Rare, abnormal form; gametophytes are normally haploid.

Diploid sporophyte

Diploid stage of plant life cycle that produces spores by meiosis.

Drupe

Fleshy fruit with a hard pit enclosing the seed (e.g., peach, cherry).

Egg

Female gamete that fuses with sperm during fertilization.

Endozoochory

Seed dispersal after being eaten and excreted by animals.

Epizoochory

Seed dispersal when seeds stick to the outside of animals.

False copulation pollination

Pollination when insects try to mate with flowers mimicking females.

Female

Organism or structure that produces eggs or ovules.

Fertilization

Fusion of sperm and egg to form a zygote.

Filament

The stalk part of a stamen that supports the anther.

Foliose

Leaf-like form of lichen.

Fruticose

Shrub-like, branched form of lichen.

Gametophyte

Haploid stage that produces gametes.

Gemmae

Small asexual reproductive bodies used for vegetative propagation.

Gills

Thin structures under mushroom caps that produce basidiospores.

Haploid

Having one set of chromosomes (n).

Haploid gametophyte

The normal gametophyte phase that produces gametes.

Haploid sporophyte

Not typical; sporophytes are usually diploid.

Hesperidium

A berry with a leathery rind (e.g., orange, lemon).

Heterokaryotic

Having two or more genetically different nuclei in one cell.

Hydrochory

Seed dispersal by water.

Hyphae

Thread-like filaments that make up fungal mycelium.

Lateral bud

Bud found in the axil of a leaf that can grow into a branch or flower.

Leaves

Main photosynthetic organs of plants.

Lichen

Symbiotic association between a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium.

Male

Organism or structure that produces sperm or pollen.

Meiosis

Cell division that halves the chromosome number to form gametes.

Mitosis

Cell division that produces identical daughter cells.

Mycelium

Network of fungal hyphae that forms the body of a fungus.

Ovary

Flower structure that contains ovules and develops into fruit.

Ovulate cone

Female cone of gymnosperms that contains ovules.

Ovule

Structure in plants that develops into a seed after fertilization.

Pepo

A berry with a hard rind (e.g., pumpkin, cucumber).

Petals

Colorful flower parts that attract pollinators.

Phalaenophily

Pollination by moths.

Pistil

Female reproductive part of a flower (stigma, style, ovary).

Pollen cone

Male cone in gymnosperms that produces pollen.

Pollen grains

Male gametophytes that carry sperm cells.

Pollen tubes

Tubes that grow from pollen grains to deliver sperm to the ovule.

Pollination

Transfer of pollen from anther to stigma (or ovule in gymnosperms).

Pome

Fleshy fruit with a core of seeds (e.g., apple, pear).

Psychophily

Pollination by butterflies.

Saprophily

Pollination by flies attracted to decaying smells.

Septate

Having cross walls (septa) dividing fungal hyphae into cells.

Soredia

Small clusters of algal cells wrapped in fungal filaments; used for asexual reproduction in lichens.

Sori

Clusters of sporangia found on the underside of fern leaves.

Sporangia

Structures that produce and release spores.

Spores

Reproductive cells that grow into new organisms without fertilization.

Sporophyte

Diploid generation that produces spores by meiosis.

Stalk

Supporting structure for a reproductive organ or plant part.

Stamen

Male reproductive part of a flower (filament + anther).

Staminate cone

Male cone in gymnosperms that produces pollen.

Stem

Plant organ that supports leaves and transports nutrients.

Stigma

Sticky tip of a pistil that captures pollen.

Style

Stalk that connects stigma and ovary in the pistil.

Terminal bud

Bud at the tip of a stem; responsible for vertical growth.

Yeast

Unicellular fungi that reproduce by budding.

Zygosporangium

Thick-walled structure formed by some fungi during sexual reproduction.

Zygospore

Resistant, diploid spore formed after fusion of gametes in some fungi.