Apologia Biology 2nd Edition Module 15

Physiology

The study of life processes in an organism

Nastic movement

A plant's response to a stimulus such that the direction of the response is preprogrammed and not dependent on the direction of the stimulus

Pore spaces

Spaces in the soil that determine how much water and air the soil can hold

Loam

A mixture of gravel, sand, silt, clay, and organic matter

Cohesion

The phenomenon that occurs when individual molecules are so strongly attracted to each other that they tend to stay together, even when exposed to tension

Translocation

The process by which organic substances move through the phloem of a plant

Hormones

Chemicals that circulate throughout multicellular organisms, regulating cellular processes by interacting with specifically targeted cells

Phototropism

A growth response to light

Gravitropism

A growth response to gravity

Thigmotropism

A growth response to touch

Perfect flowers

Flowers with both stamens and carpels

Imperfect flowers

Flowers with either stamens or carpels, but not both

Pollination

The transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the carpel in flowering plants

Double fertilization

A fertilization process that requires two sperm to fuse with two other cells

Seed

An ovule with a protective coating, encasing a mature plant embryo and a nutrient source

Fruit

A mature ovary that contains a seed or seeds