Seedless Plants - Chapter 25 Summary

Vocabulary flashcards based on the key concepts from the 'Seedless Plants' lecture.

Seedless Plants

Plants such as mosses and ferns that reproduce via spores instead of seeds.

Mosses

Non-vascular plants that thrive in moist environments and reproduce through spores.

Ferns

Seedless vascular plants with large fronds that reproduce via spores.

Sporophyte

The diploid multicellular stage in the life cycle of a plant.

Gametophyte

The haploid multicellular stage that produces gametes.

Haplodiplontic

Describes plants that have both haploid and diploid phases.

Sporangia

Reproductive sacs in which spores are formed.

Homosporous

Plants that produce one type of spore that develops into a gametophyte.

Heterosporous

Plants that produce two types of spores, male (microspores) and female (megaspores).

Sporopollenin

A tough polymer protecting spores from degradation.

Apical Meristem

Tissue at the tip of roots and shoots responsible for plant growth.

Alternation of Generations

The life cycle of plants alternating between haploid and diploid stages.

Flagellated Sperm

Sperm that have flagella, used for swimming in water during fertilization.

Xylem

Vascular tissue that conducts water and nutrients from roots to other parts of the plant.

Phloem

Vascular tissue responsible for transporting sugars and other metabolic products downward.

Cuticle

A waxy covering protecting the plant's surfaces from desiccation.

Stomata

Small openings on leaves that allow for gas exchange.

Bryophytes

Non-vascular plants like mosses and liverworts.

Liverworts

A type of bryophyte that is flat and lacks true leaves.

Hornworts

Bryophytes with a pipe-like sporophyte that grows continuously.

Ecosystem Role of Mosses

Mosses help slow erosion, retain moisture, and offer habitat.

Vascular Plants

Plants with vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) that transport water and nutrients.

Tracheophytes

Another term for vascular plants.

Strobili

Cone-like structures that bear spores.

Microphylls

Small leaves with a single unbranched vein.

Megaphylls

Larger leaves with a complex network of veins.

Sori

Clusters of sporangia on the underside of fern fronds.

Rhizome

An underground stem that anchors and supports a plant.

Whisk Ferns

Plants with no true leaves or roots, featuring green stems for photosynthesis.

Fronds

The leaves of ferns which are often large and divided.

Sporophylls

Modified leaves that bear sporangia.

Paleozoic Era

An era in which early land plants, including ferns and horsetails, emerged.

Cyanobacteria

Bacteria that can photosynthesize and are often found in symbiotic relationships with plants.

Sphagnum

A type of moss that is significant in peat formation and has water-retaining properties.

Nitrogen Fixation

The process by which certain plants (like hornworts and ferns) convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form.

Secondary Metabolites

Organic compounds produced by plants that are not directly involved in growth, often used for defense.

Gamete

A haploid germ cell that combines during fertilization to form a diploid zygote.

Capillary Action

The ability of water to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of external forces.

Algae

Simple non-flowering plants that include red and green algae, precursors to land plants.

Desiccation Resistance

The ability of certain plants to withstand dry conditions.

Cuticle Function

To minimize water loss and protect plant tissues.

Photosynthesis

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