26 Seed Plants

Anther

Sac-like structure at the tip of the stamen in which pollen grains are produced.

Anthophyta

Phylum to which angiosperms belong.

Barcoding

Molecular biology technique using short gene sequences to identify a species.

Basal angiosperms

Group of plants that branched off before the separation of monocots and eudicots.

Calyx

Whorl of sepals.

Carpel

Single unit of the pistil.

Conifer

Dominant phylum of gymnosperms with the greatest variety of trees.

Corolla

Collection of petals.

Cotyledon

Primitive leaf that develops in the zygote; monocots have one, dicots have two.

Crop

Cultivated plant.

Cycad

Gymnosperm resembling a palm tree, member of the phylum Cycadophyta.

Dicot

Related group of angiosperms with embryos possessing two cotyledons.

Dioecious

Species with male and female reproductive organs on separate specimens.

Filament

Thin stalk linking the anther to the base of the flower.

Flower

Specialized structure for reproduction in seed-bearing plants.

Fruit

Thickened tissue from the ovary wall that protects the embryo and aids in seed dispersal.

Ginkgophyte

Gymnosperm with one extant species, Ginkgo biloba, known for fan-shaped leaves.

Gnetophyte

Gymnosperm shrub with varied features producing vessel elements; includes Ephedra, Gnetum, and Welwitschia.

Gymnosperm

Seed plant with naked seeds exposed on modified leaves or in cones.

Gynoecium

Structure constituting the female reproductive organ (also known as carpel).

Heirloom seed

Seed from a historically grown plant not widely used in modern agriculture.

Herbaceous

Grass-like plant lacking woody tissue.

Herbivory

Consumption of plants by insects and other animals.

Integument

Layer of sporophyte tissue surrounding the megasporangium and later the embryo.

Megasporocyte

Megaspore mother cell that germinates into a female gametophyte.

Microsporocyte

Smaller spore producing a male gametophyte in a heterosporous plant.

Monocot

Group of angiosperms with embryos having one cotyledon and pollen with a single ridge.

Monoecious

Species with male and female reproductive organs on the same plant.

Nectar

Sugary liquid produced by flowers to attract animal pollinators.

Ovary

Chamber containing and protecting the ovule or female megasporangium.

Ovulate cone

Cone containing two ovules per scale.

Ovule

Female gametophyte.

Paraphyletic group

Group not including all descendants of a single common ancestor.

Perianth

Part of the plant consisting of the calyx and corolla.

Petal

Modified leaf that attracts animal pollinators.

Pistil

Fused group of carpels.

Pollen grain

Structure containing the male gametophyte of the plant.

Pollen tube

Extension from the pollen grain delivering sperm to the egg cell.

Pollination

Transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma.

Progymnosperm

Transitional group resembling conifers but reproducing like ferns.

Seed

Structure containing the embryo, storage tissue, and protective coat.

Sepal

Modified leaf enclosing the bud; outermost structure of a flower.

Spermatophyte

Seed plant; from Greek sperm (seed) and phyte (plant).

Stamen

Structure containing the male reproductive organs.

Stigma

Uppermost structure of the carpel where pollen is deposited.

Strobilus

Plant structure with sporophylls around a central stalk, producing pollen or eggs.

Style

Long, thin structure linking the stigma to the ovary.