Introduction to the Plant Kingdom

Flashcards covering the history, evolution, adaptations, and diversity of the plant kingdom, including life cycles and phyla classification.

Cuticle

An adaptation of land plants used to reduce water loss.

Stomata

Specialized structures in land plants used for gas exchange.

Vascular tissue

A transport system used by land plants to move materials, which includes xylem and phloem.

Ordovician

The geological period approximately $500\text{ million years ago}$ when the first land plants appeared.

Charophytes

Specific green algae that share a most recent common ancestor with plants.

Alternation of generations

A plant life cycle that alternates between a diploid ($2n$) spore-producing generation and a haploid ($n$) gamete-producing generation.

Sporophytic generation

The diploid ($2n$) phase of the plant life cycle that starts with fertilization and produces spores.

Gametophytic generation

The haploid ($n$) phase of the plant life cycle that starts with meiosis and produces gametes.

Embryophytes

A term for plants reflecting their multicellular embryos, which are dependent on the parent and protected within female gametophyte tissue.

Sporangia

Multicellular organs in the sporophyte where walled spores are produced.

Sporopollenin

A substance 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.

Hepatophyta

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

Anthocerophyta

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

Bryophyta

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

Rhizoids

Structures used for anchorage in non-vascular plants (Bryophyta) 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 sperm is produced.

Xylem

The component of vascular tissue that conducts water and minerals.

Phloem

The component of vascular tissue that conducts sugars.

Rhizome

The horizontal underground stem found in seedless vascular plants like ferns.

Frond

The specific name given to a fern leaf.

Fiddlehead

The name for the young, coiled stage of a fern leaf.

Sori

Clusters of spore-producing structures found on the sporophytic fern plant where spores are produced by meiosis.

Prothallus

The gametophytic plant in the fern life cycle that produces eggs in archegonia and sperm in antheridia.

Lycophyta

The phylum of seedless vascular plants that includes Clubmosses, Quillworts, and Spike mosses.

Monilophyta

The phylum of seedless vascular plants that includes Horsetails, Whisk ferns, and Ferns.

Strobili

Clusters of sporophylls found in certain seedless vascular plants like clubmosses.