Midterm Plant ID

Morphological Features

physical characteristics of a plant that help describe the external form, structure, and appearance.

secondary growth

process by which a plant expands in diameter rather than height

wood

secondary xylem

bark

secondary pholem and protective tissues

nodes

attachement place on the stems

Alternate arrangement

1 leaf at a node

Opposite arrangement

2 leaves at a node

Whorled arrangement

3+ leaves at a node

entire margin

serrate margin

sinuate margin

dentate margin

crenate margin

‘‘scalloped’’

lobed margin

arcuate venation

longitudinal venation

palmate venation

parallel venation

pinnate venation

reticulate venation

rotate venation

glabrous surface

smooth and hairless ; glossy ; shiny

glaucous surface

dull, dusty look ; waxy coating

coriaceous surface

thick, tough texture ; leathery

scabrous surface

feels like sandpaper

waxy surface

protective wax layer ; ex: succulent

tomentose

wooly hairs

linear leaf shape

lanceolate leaf shape

widest area below middle

elliptic leaf shape

widest near middle

ovate leaf shape

wider below ; egg-shaped

obovate leaf shape

widest above middle

cordate leaf shape

reniform leaf shape

kidney-shaped

deltoid leaf shape

triangular

orbicular leaf shape

circular

acute apex

acuminate apex

obtuse apex

rounded apex

emarginate apex

cuspidate apex

cuneate base

rounded base

cordate base

truncate base

oblique base

petiole

stalk connecting blade to stem

node

point of leaf attachment

axillary bud

located in the leaf axil; critical for recognizing the true leaf

stipules

paired appendages at the petiole base in some species

ID process (large to small)

arrangement, type, blade, margin, venation, surface texture

decussate

makes a cross

basal/rosette

petiolule

stalk of an individual leaflet

odd-pinnate

has a terminal leaflet

even-pinnate

has a terminal pair of leaflets

petiolate

has a petiole

sessile

blade attaches directly to the stem

clasping

wraps around the stem

sheathing

wraps around the stem ; common in grasses

undulate margin

double-serrated margin

incised margin

pubescent surface

hairy

diagnostic description

arrangement, type, shape, apex, base, margin, venation, attachement, surface

Annuals are nicknamed what?

‘‘Fast-livers’’

Annuals life-span

completes after one season

Perennials life-span

lives for 2+ years and regrows from storage structures

Annual’s leaves are:

soft, simple, and sometimes hairy

Annual’s stems are:

herbaceous and fast elongated

Annual bloom time

long and continuous flowering

Annual or Perennial: Who has a high seed output?

Annuals have a high seed output

Annual key families

daisy, potato, pigweed, cabbage

T or F: Annuals can outcompete perennials by high germination, flowering, and setting seeds

TRUE

Annual or Perennial: Which one has seeds built for survival and has dormancy traits?

annuals (seeds built for survival)

Where do perennials invest their energy?

In their roots and storage structures

What caused the hunting to farming shift?

Annual plant evolution

Which plant type requires minimal effort?

Perennials need less maintenance

Perennial leaves are:

basal/rosettes or persistant foilage

Perennial leaf texture:

waxy, thick, and pubescent

Perennial stems are:

herbaceous or woody

Perennial bloom time:

seasonal; shorter periods

Which plant type relies on storage organs?

Perennials (bulbs, rhizomes, and tubers)

Perennial key families:

mint, lily, iris, buttercup, and daisy

Plant adaptions:

special structures and characteristics that help the plant survive, compete, and reproduce

Plant ID vegetative clues:

stipules, tendrils, and lenticels

Stipules

(‘‘leaf accessories’’) (ex: rose, tulip tree, pea)

tendrils

(‘‘grabbers’’) (ex: grape, pea, passionflower)

lenticels

(‘‘breathing pores’’) (ex: black cherry, birch, elderberry)

Protection features:

spines, thorns, and prickles

spines

leaf origin (ex: japanese barberry, cactus, black locust)

prickles

epidermis origin (ex: rose, blackberry, raspberry) ; easily removable

thorns

stem origin (ex: hawthorn, citrus, honey locust) ; woody structures