General Biology II: Plant Structure & Function

This set of flashcards covers key concepts from the lecture on plant structure and function, focusing on various plant tissues, their functions, and anatomy.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce sugars and oxygen.

Bryophytes

Non-vascular land plants, including liverworts, hornworts, and mosses.

Meristematic Tissue

Plant tissue that allows for growth and is composed of undifferentiated cells.

Vascular Tissue

Tissue responsible for the transport of water, nutrients, and sugars in plants.

Xylem

Vascular tissue that carries water from the roots to the rest of the plant.

Phloem

Vascular tissue that transports carbohydrates and other nutrients throughout the plant.

Stomata

Tiny openings on the leaf surface that allow for gas exchange, controlled by guard cells.

Guard Cells

Cells that surround stomata and regulate their opening and closing.

Casparian Strip

A waxy layer in the endodermis that forces water and ions to pass through cell membranes instead of moving through cell walls.

Parenchyma Cells

The most common type of plant cell, involved in metabolic functions such as photosynthesis and storage.

Collenchyma Cells

Plant cells that provide structural support and are alive at maturity.

Sclerenchyma Cells

Dead plant cells with thickened cell walls, providing strong structural support.

Root Hairs

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

Apical Meristem

Meristem located at the tips of roots and shoots, responsible for root and shoot elongation.

Lateral Meristem

Meristem that allows for the increase in girth (width) of a plant.

Intercalary Meristem

Meristem found in monocots, allows for growth at the base of leaves after grazing.

Leaf Anatomy

Structure of a leaf including its midrib, margin, petiole, and veins, involved in photosynthesis and gas exchange.