Plant Biology Vocabulary

Flashcards for key vocabulary from the plant biology lectures.

Kingdom Plantae/Embryophytes

Land plants; photosynthetic organisms.

Embryophyte

Plants retain and nourish the embryo (zygote) inside the female gametophyte.

Photosynthetic

Use sunlight, water, and CO₂ to create sugars and oxygen.

Photoautotroph

Self-feeding, producing their own food.

Mycorrhizal Networks

Underground fungal networks linking plants.

Bryophytes

Mosses, liverworts, hornworts; small, non- vascular.

Pteridophytes

Ferns and allies; vascular, reproduce via spores.

Gymnosperms

"Naked seeds," cones (not all are conifers).

Angiosperms

"Covered seeds," flowering plants.

ATP and NADPH

Energy carriers moving between the light reactions and Calvin Cycle.

Gametophyte

Haploid (n): Produces gametes via mitosis.

Sporophyte

Diploid (2n): Produces spores via meiosis.

Bryophytes

Non-vascular: No xylem/phloem, small size.

Pteridophytes

Seedless vascular plants.

Angiosperms

Flowers, fruits, and covered seeds.

Divaricating Shrubs

Dense, tangled growth.

Macroalgae

Flowering plants mostly in marine environment. Brown, Red & Green types (pigments in each).

Chloroplasts

Organelles that are 'factories' where photosynthesis occurs.

Endosymbiosis Theory

Begin as bacteria (cyanobacteria).

Brown Algae

Largest and complex of all algae. All multicellular. Alternation of generation

Urchin Barren

Once were kelp forests but no longer due to urchins

Red Algae

More diverse. Multicellular.

Green Algae

Even more diverse. Found as colonies

Charophytes

Related to land plants. Used in cosmetics, medicine.

UV Radiation

Protective flavonoids that absorb UV (pigments).

Bryophytes

Mosses, Liverworts, Hornworts.

Sterile Columella

Central core inside capsule.

Sphagnum Moss

Water retention, aeration, soil acidification.

Asexual Reproduction, Liverworts

Gemmae cups splash out new plants.

Gametangia

protective reproductive structure

Sporopollenin

Protects spores.

Embryo Protection

Feeds on parent plant.

Epidermis

Protective outer layer.

Pteridophytes (Ferns)

First major plant group with vascular tissue

Xylem

Moves water.

Phloem

Moves nutrients.

Rhizomes

Underground stems.

Sporangia/Sori

Clusters on leaf undersides

Cuticle

Prevents water loss.

Stomata

Gas exchange regulation.

Male Cone

Microsporangia

Female Cone

Megasporangia

Sepal

Protects unopened flower bud

Petal

Attracts pollinators

Stamen

Male reproductive part (anther + filament)

Carpel/Pistil

Female part (stigma, style, ovary)

Receptacle

Flower attachment point

Angiosperms

Flowering seed plants that produce seeds enclosed in fruits.

Flowers

Specialized structures for sexual reproduction.

Fruits

Mature ovary that protects seeds and aids dispersal.

Double Fertilization

One sperm fertilizes egg → zygote (2n). One sperm fertilizes central cell (2 nuclei) → endosperm (3n).

Endosperm

Provides nutrients to developing embryo.

Pollination Syndromes

Co-evolution between angiosperms and pollinators.

Monocots

One cotyledon.

Eudicots

Two cotyledons.

Spatial separation

Structural separation of stamens and stigma

Temporal separation

Differences in timing

Rāhui

Temporary restriction

Kaitiakitanga

Guardianship

Native Plants

Indigenous to a specific location.

Naturalised Plants

Non-native but established without ongoing human intervention.

Invasive Species

Non-native species causing environmental harm.

Photosynthesis

Sunlight + CO₂ + H₂O → Glucose + O₂

Xylem

Moves water and minerals from roots to leaves.

Phloem

Moves sugars and amino acids from leaves (source) to growing tissues (sink).

Transpiration

Water evaporates from stomata

Translocation

Sugars move through the phloem

Symplastic

Through cytoplasm via plasmodesmata.

Apoplastic

Between cells, blocked by the Casparian strip in the endodermis.

Haustorial Parasites

Tap directly into host vascular tissue.

Mycoheterotrophs

Obtain nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi connected to another plant.

Carnivorous Plants

Trap and digest insects or small animals to obtain nutrients, especially nitrogen.

Nitrogen Deficiency Symptom

General yellowing (chlorosis) of older leaves

Phosphorus Deficiency Symptom

Dark green or purplish lower leaf surfaces

Potassium Deficiency Symptom

Marginal scorching or burning at leaf edges

Symbiosis in Legumes

Plant roots secrete flavonoids to attract Rhizobium.

Mycorrhizal Associations

Mutualistic symbiosis between fungi and plant roots.

Ectomycorrhizae

Fungi surround root cells without entering.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizae

Fungi penetrate root cells and form branched structures called arbuscules.

Stoma/Stomata

Pores for gas exchange.

Xylem

Vascular tissue for water and minerals.

Phloem

Vascular tissue for sugars and amino acids.

Haustorium

Parasitic structure for resource extraction.

Holoparasite

Fully parasitic, non-photosynthetic plant.

Hemiparasite

Photosynthesising plant that partially parasitises.

Nodule

Root swelling where nitrogen-fixing bacteria reside.

Mycorrhiza

Fungal-root mutualistic association.

Arbuscule

Nutrient exchange structure inside plant root cells.

Hyphae/Mycelium

Filaments and networks formed by fungi.

Tropism

Directional growth in response to an environmental stimulus.

Phototropism

Shoots grow toward light

Gravitropism

roots grow down (positive), shoots up (negative)

Thigmotropism

coil around supports

Hydrotropism

roots grow toward moisture

Chemotropism

roots grow away from toxins

Auxin

Promotes cell elongation, phototropism, root growth

Cytokinin

Stimulates cell division, delays senescence

Gibberellin

Stimulates stem elongation, germination, flowering

Abscisic Acid

Induces dormancy, closes stomata during stress

Ethylene

Triggers fruit ripening, response to mechanical stress