Plant Vocabulary

Cuticle

Cuticle

a waxy, water-repellent layer covering the outer surface of plants, insects, and other organisms to prevent water loss and protect against environmental stresses.

Stomata

openings in the outer cell layer of leaves and some stems that enable the exchange of gases even with the presence of a cuticle on a plant.

Vascular Tissue

specialized transpor tissues that enable faster movement of substances over greater distances than by osmosis and diffusion.

Vascular Plant

plants with vascular tissues.

Nonvascular Plant

plants without vascular tissues.

Seed

plant structure that contains an embryo and nutrients for the embryo. It is covered with a protective coat.

Rhizoids

root-like structures found in non-vascular plants like mosses and liverworts. They anchor the plant to the substrate and absorb water and nutrients.

Strobilus

a compact cluster of spore-bearing structures found in some seedless vascular plant sporophytes.

Epiphytes

plants that live anchored to another plant.

Cotyledon

structures that either store food or help absorb food for the tiny sporophyte.

Parenchyma Cell

simple plant cells that make up the bulk of plant tissues. They have thin cell walls and play roles in photosynthesis, storage, and support.

Collenchyma Cell

plant cells with unevenly thickened cell walls that provide support to growing parts of the plant. They are alive at maturity and have a flexible structure.

Sclerenchyma Cell

plant cells that provide structural support due to their thick, lignified cell walls. They are often dead at maturity and come in two types: fibers and sclereids.

Palisade Mesophyll

a layer of elongated cells containing chloroplasts found in the leaves of plants. It is responsible for photosynthesis due to its high concentration of chloroplasts and location near the upper epidermis for maximum light absorption.

Spongy Mesophyll

a layer of cells found in the interior of a leaf, below the palisade mesophyll. It is responsible for gas exchange and contains air spaces for the diffusion of gases like carbon dioxide and oxygen during photosynthesis.

Petiole

the stalk that attaches a leaf to a stem; it allows the leaf to be positioned for maximum sunlight absorption.

Epidermis

the layer of cells that makes up the outer covering on a plant

Guard Cells

specialized cells found in the epidermis of plant leaves that control the opening and closing of stomata to regulate gas exchange and water loss. the water-carrying vascular tissue, composed of specialized cells called vessel elements and tracheids.

Xylem

 the water-carrying vascular tissue, composed of specialized cells called vessel elements and tracheids.

Phloem

the main food-carrying tissue in vascular plants

Root Cap

consists of parenchyma cells to help protect root tissues as the root grows

Cortex

the layer between the epidermis and vascular tissue which

Endodermis

the inner boundary of the cortexa

Casparian Strip

a waterproof stip that forces water and substance to pass through the endodermal cells instead around them

Pericycle

a tissue in plants located just inside the endodermis and is responsible for lateral root formation and secondary growth in roots.

Apical Meristem

produces cells that increase the length of a stem

Vascular Cambium

 produces additional cells to increase stem diameter

Tuber

a swollen underground plant stem that stores nutrients, such as potatoes. It is a type of plant structure used for food storage and propagation.

Rhizome

a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. It is a type of plant structure that stores food and allows for vegetative propagation.

Blade

the leaf of a plant, especially grass; the flat or expanded portion of a leaf.