Botany

Transpiration

The process of how water moves in and out of plants.

Xerophyte

A plant adapted to survive in dry environments.

Waxy cuticle

A protective outer layer on the leaf that reduces water loss.

Stomata

Small openings on the leaf surface for gas exchange.

Calvin Cycle

A series of biochemical reactions in photosynthesis that convert carbon dioxide and other compounds into glucose.

Apoplast

The pathway where water moves through the spaces between plant cells.

Symplast

The pathway where water moves through the cytoplasm of plant cells interconnected by plasmodesmata.

Xylem

A type of tissue in vascular plants that carries water and dissolved nutrients from the roots to the rest of the plant.

Tropism

A plant's growth response to an external stimulus.

Phototropism

The growth of a plant toward light.

Geotropism

A plant's growth response to gravity.

Pollination

The transfer of pollen to the stigma of a flower.

Fertilization

The process of creating a zygote by joining sperm and egg.

Root hairs

Extensions of root cells that increase surface area for water and nutrient absorption.

Hydrotropism

A plant's growth response to the presence of water.

Negative geotropism

Growth of plant parts against the direction of gravity.

Positive geotropism

Growth of plant roots with the direction of gravity.

Lignin

A polymer that provides strength and structural support to the xylem.

Palisade layer

The layer of leaf cells located under the upper epidermis, where most photosynthesis occurs.

Spongy mesophyll

The tissue in a leaf that contains air spaces for gas exchange.