Exam 4: Key Points and Concepts

These flashcards cover essential terms and concepts related to the plant life cycle, seed plants, angiosperms, and their reproductive structures, useful for preparation for the upcoming exam.

Cuticle

A protective layer covering the surface of leaves and stems in plants.

Stomata

Small openings on the surface of leaves that allow gas exchange.

Sporophyte

The diploid phase of the plant life cycle that produces spores.

Gametophyte

The haploid phase of the plant life cycle that produces gametes.

Heterospory

The production of two distinct types of spores - microspores and megaspores.

Pollination

The transfer of pollen from the male structures to the female structures of flowers.

Double fertilization

A process in flowering plants where one sperm fertilizes the egg and another sperm fuses with two polar nuclei to form the endosperm.

Carpel

A female reproductive structure in flowers, consisting of the stigma, style, and ovary.

Ovary

The swollen part of the carpel that contains ovules and develops into fruit.

Seed

A fertilized ovule that develops into a new plant.

Endosperm

Tissue that nourishes the developing embryo in seeds.

Embryo sac

The female gametophyte found within the ovule.

Gynoecium

The collective term for all the female reproductive structures in a flower.

Androecium

The collective term for all the male reproductive structures in a flower.

Pericarp

The part of the fruit formed from the ovary wall, consisting of the exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp.

Dehiscent fruit

Fruits that split open at maturity to release seeds.

Indehiscent fruit

Fruits that do not split open at maturity and retain seeds.

Sporopollenin

A durable polymer that makes up the outer wall of pollen grains.

Seed coat

The protective outer layer of a seed.

Microsporangium

A structure where microspores are produced.

Megasporangium

A structure where megaspores are produced.