Plant Kingdom Overview

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to the major characteristics, adaptations, and reproduction mechanisms of plants, crucial for understanding the plant kingdom.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use chlorophyll to convert light energy, typically from the sun, into chemical energy in the form of glucose.

Cellulose

A complex carbohydrate that forms the cell walls of plants, providing structural support.

Indeterminate Growth

A type of growth in which plants can continue to grow and develop throughout their lives, without a predetermined final size.

Gamete

A reproductive cell (sperm or egg) used in sexual reproduction, which combines during fertilization to form a zygote.

Sporangium

A reproductive structure in which spores are produced; crucial for the reproduction of seedless plants.

Haplodiplontic

A life cycle that includes both haploid and diploid multicellular stages, common in many plants.

Desiccation

The state of extreme dryness or dehydration, which plants must adapt to in a terrestrial environment.

Xylem

Vascular tissue in plants responsible for the transport of water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant.

Phloem

Vascular tissue in plants that transports sugars and nutrients produced during photosynthesis throughout the plant.

Cuticle

A waxy layer that covers the aerial parts of plants, preventing water loss.

Alkaloids

Naturally occurring chemical compounds that often have pharmacological effects, used by plants for defense against herbivores.

Gymnosperms

A group of seed plants that produce seeds not enclosed in ovaries; includes conifers and cycads.

Angiosperms

Flowering plants that produce seeds enclosed in fruit; the most diverse group of plants.

Heterosporous

Referring to plants that produce two types of spores: microspores (male) and megaspores (female).

Dioecious

Plant species that have male and female reproductive structures on separate individuals, requiring cross-pollination.