Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants

A collection of vocabulary terms related to sexual reproduction in flowering plants, along with their definitions.

Actinomorphic

A flower that can be divided into two equal halves by any vertical section passing through the center.

Zygomorphic

A flower that can only be divided into two equal halves by one specific vertical section.

Complete flower

A flower that has all four whorls: sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils.

Incomplete flower

A flower that is missing any one of the whorls.

Bisexual flower (hermaphrodite)

A flower that contains both stamens and pistils.

Unisexual flower

A flower that has either only stamens (staminate) or only pistils (pistillate).

Monoecious plant

A plant that bears both male and female flowers.

Dioecious plant

A plant that bears either male or female flowers.

Calyx

The outermost whorl of a flower, consisting of sepals.

Corolla

The whorl of petals in a flower.

Androecium

The male reproductive part of the flower, consisting of stamens.

Gynoecium

The female reproductive part of the flower, consisting of carpels.

Microspores

Haploid spores that develop into male gametophytes.

Megaspores

Haploid spores that develop into female gametophytes.

Male gametophyte

Consists of three cells: one tube cell and two sperm cells.

Female gametophyte (embryo sac)

Consists of seven cells and eight nuclei.

Anthesis

The time when a flower is fully open.

Pollination

The transfer of pollen from anther to stigma.

Autogamy

Self-pollination; stigma is pollinated by pollen from the same flower.

Xenogamy

Cross-pollination; pollen from one flower fertilizes the ovule of a different flower.

Fertilization

The fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote.

Dehiscence

The splitting open of the anther to release pollen grains.

Endosperm

Triploid tissue that nourishes the developing embryo.

Apomixis

A form of asexual reproduction where seeds are produced without fertilization.

Parthenocarpy

The development of a fruit without fertilization, resulting in seedless fruits.