Morphology of flowering plants

Plant Morphology

Branch of science which deals with the study of external form and structure and various modifications of plants.

Root system

The underground part of a plant, differentiated from the aerial shoot system.

Shoot system

The portion of the plant above the ground, which includes the stem, branches, leaves, and flowers.

Tap root

A single main root that is thick, usually developed from the radicle of the seed.

Adventitious roots

Roots that develop from parts of the plant other than the radicle.

Fibrous roots

A root system in monocots where the primary root is short-lived and replaced by many roots from the base of the stem.

Primary root

The root formed directly from the radicle of the embryo; it is often short-lived in monocots.

Lateral roots

Roots that arise from the primary root or directly from the stem.

Root cap

A thimble-like structure protecting the growing tip of the root.

Pneumatophores

Roots that grow vertically upwards in marshy areas to help the plant obtain oxygen.

Mycorrhiza

A symbiotic association between plant roots and fungi that aids in absorption of nutrients.

Stem

The above-ground part of a plant body that typically supports branches, leaves, and flowers.

Bulb

An underground storage organ made up of multiple fleshy leaves surrounding a short stem.

Rhizome

A horizontally growing underground stem that bears nodes and internodes and can give rise to new plants.

Lamina

The broad, flat part of a leaf, responsible for photosynthesis.

Phyllotaxy

The pattern of arrangement of leaves on the stem or branch.

Simple leaves

Leaves with an entire lamina or incised lamina where the incisions do not touch the midrib.

Compound leaves

Leaves with incisions that reach the midrib, forming several leaflets.

Reticulate venation

A network of veins in leaves where veins branch off into smaller veinlets, typically found in dicots.

Inflorescence

The arrangement of flowers on the floral axis, which can be racemose or cymose.

Cymose inflorescence

Inflorescence where the main axis terminates in a flower, with older flowers at the top and younger buds below.

Racemose inflorescence

Inflorescence where the main axis continues to grow and does not terminate in a flower, with older flowers below younger ones.

Tuber

Swollen branch tips that store food and can produce new plants.

Stipule

Lateral appendages found at the base of leaves in some plants.

Fasciculated roots

Cluster of swollen roots that store food.

Succulent leaves

Fleshy leaves that store water or food.

Heterophylly

The presence of different types of leaves on the same plant.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.

Meristematic region

Region of active cell division responsible for growth in roots and stems.