Field Botany RNR 230

fall 2026

spermatophyte

plants that produce seeds

gymnosperm

“naked seeded” plants; no flower and not enclosed within a fruit (ex. pinecone)

angiosperm

flowering plants that produce seeds enclosed in a fruit

seedless vascular plant

no seeds; vascular system

vascular system

moves water and energy within the plant

annual

completes its life cycle (seed → produce seed → death) within 12 months

perennial

lives for many years

tree

tall, woody plant, often with secondary branches supported on a main stem

shrub

plant with many woody persistant stems, generally shorter than a tee when mature (2m)

herb

plant without persistant woody stem

graminoid

grasslike herb

vine

plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing/twining/creeping

liana

plant with a woody stem that derives support from climbing/twining/creeping

Mediterranean climate

precipitation occurs in a 5-7 month long, relatively cool period (late autumn, winter, early spring)

annual grassland

area dominated by annual plants (ex grasses and wildflowers)

winter annual

starts growing in fall, survives winter, grow and reproduce in spring, die in summer

cell wall

only in plants; cellulose microfibrils provide rigidity; generally permeable to liquid

plasma membrane

semipermeable; involved in signaling, organization, and transport of materials

plastid

group of structures that exist in plant cells; presence can be used to identify an organism as a plant

chloroplast

photosynthesis; double membrane-bound structure; green pigment associated with one of the membranes

chromoplast

pigment synthesis and storage; non-green pigments (especially red, orange, yellow)

amyloplast

storage of starch; common in storage organs (ex roots)

vacuole

only in plant cells; large membrane-bound “bag” structure; storage, secretion, and excretion; mostly stores water; increases in size with age; can contain pigments (ex crystals)

secretion

cell makes something and sends it somewhere else in the plant with a purpose

excretion

getting rid of waste the cell doesn’t need

nucleus

double membrane-bound structure with pores; contains most of cell’s DNA

mitochondrion

double membrane-bound structure; converts carbohydrates into usable energy (chemical products of photosynthesis into chemicals used for living processes)