Plant Biology and Adaptations

Flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to plant biology and adaptations.

Morphological traits

Key physical characteristics that define green plants.

Molecular phylogeny

The study of the evolutionary relationships between plant groups using molecular data.

Embryophyta

Formal name for land plants, referring to plants that retain their embryos.

Xylem

Vascular tissue that transports water and minerals from roots upward.

Phloem

Vascular tissue that transports sugars and nutrients throughout the plant.

Cohesion-tension theory

Hypothesis explaining water movement in plants through cohesion and evaporation.

Cuticle

Waxy layer on plant surfaces that prevents water loss.

Stomata

Pores on plant leaves that allow gas exchange and regulate water loss.

Translocation

Movement of sugars through the phloem from sources to sinks.

Pollination

Process of transferring pollen from the male anther to the female stigma.

Angiosperms

Vascular plants that produce flowers and fruit.

Gymnosperms

Vascular seed plants that produce cones and have 'naked' seeds.

Vascular tissue

Specialized tissue in plants for transporting water and nutrients.

Adaptation

Characteristic that enhances survival and reproduction in a specific environment.

Pollen

Male gametophyte in seed plants that carries sperm to the egg.

Seed dispersal

Process by which seeds are spread away from the parent plant.

Double fertilization

Process unique to angiosperms where one sperm fertilizes the egg and another forms the endosperm.

Fruits

Mature ovary that contains seeds and aids in their dispersal.

Embryo retention

Adaptation of land plants to retain and nourish the embryo within the parent.

Companion cells

Cells adjacent to sieve-tube elements in phloem that support their function.