Morphology of Flowering Plants - Video Notes

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on flowering plant morphology and reproduction.

Angiosperms

Flowering plants that produce seeds enclosed within fruits; the primary group discussed as flowering plants (also called flowering plants).

Monocotyledons

Angiosperms with one cotyledon in the seed; leaves with parallel veins; petals in multiples of 3; often fibrous roots.

Dicotyledons

Angiosperms with two cotyledons in the seed; leaves with net-like veins; petals in multiples of 4 or 5; often have tap roots.

Cotyledon

Seed leaf in the embryo; monocots have one cotyledon, dicots have two.

Parallel venation

Leaf venation pattern with veins running parallel across the leaf; typical of monocots.

Net-like venation

Reticulate leaf venation where veins form a branched network; typical of dicots.

Fibrous roots

A root system made of many thin roots spreading from the base, common in monocots.

Tap root

A single, thick primary root with smaller lateral roots, common in many dicots.

Adventitious roots

Roots that arise from non-root tissue, such as stems or leaves.

Tubers

Thickened storage roots (tuberous roots) that store nutrients.

Node

Point on a stem where leaves or buds attach.

Internode

Segment of stem between two nodes.

Bud

An undeveloped shoot or flower that may grow into a new stem, leaf, or flower.

Stem

The main axis of a plant that supports leaves, flowers, and fruits.

Leaf

The photosynthetic organ of a plant, typically consisting of blade and stalk.

Leaf blade (lamina)

The broad, flat part of a leaf.

Petiole

The stalk that attaches the leaf blade to the stem.

Midrib

The central vein running down the middle of a leaf.

Lateral veins

Secondary veins branching from the midrib.

Margin

The edge of a leaf; can be smooth, toothed, or lobed.

Stipules

Small leaf-like appendages at the base of the leaf stalk.

Simple leaf

A leaf with a single blade not divided into leaflets.

Compound leaf

A leaf divided into multiple leaflets arranged along a rachis.

Alternate arrangement

Leaves arranged singly at different heights along the stem.

Opposite arrangement

Leaves arranged in pairs at each node.

Whorled arrangement

Three or more leaves arranged around a node.

Palmately shaped

Leaf shape with lobes radiating from a single point, like a hand.

Cordate

Heart-shaped leaf shape.

Lanceolate

Spear-shaped leaf, longer than wide with a pointed tip.

Orbicular

Round leaf shape.

Cuticle

Waxy outer coating of the leaf surface that helps prevent water loss.

Epidermis

Outer layer of cells covering the leaf (or other organs); protective and often contains stomata.

Guard cells

Pairs of cells that surround stomata and regulate their opening and closing.

Stomata

Pores on leaf surfaces that permit gas exchange; controlled by guard cells.

Palisade mesophyll

Layer of tall, columnar cells in the leaf where most photosynthesis occurs.

Spongy mesophyll

Layer of loosely arranged cells with air spaces facilitating gas exchange.

Calix (Calyx)

Sepals collectively; the outer floral whorl protecting the developing flower.

Corolla (Petals)

Petals collectively; the inner floral whorl often colorful to attract pollinators.

Petal

An individual segment of the corolla; usually colorful.

Sepal

An individual segment of the calyx; part of the outer floral whorl.

Stamen

Male reproductive part of a flower, consisting of anther and filament.

Anther

The pollen-producing part of a stamen.

Filament

The stalk that supports the anther.

Pistil

Female reproductive part of a flower, consisting of stigma, style, and ovary.

Stigma

The receptive surface at the top of the pistil where pollen lands.

Style

The stalk connecting the stigma to the ovary, through which pollen tubes grow.

Ovary

The base of the pistil containing ovules; develops into fruit after fertilization.

Ovule

Structure inside the ovary that develops into a seed after fertilization.

Receptacle

The part of the stem that bears floral organs; in some flowers the ovary sits on this.

Perianth

The collective term for the outer floral envelope (calyx + corolla).

Hypogynous flower

A flower in which the ovary is below the other floral parts.

Perigynous flower

A flower where the ovary is at the same level as the other floral parts and an inner cup (hypanthium) surrounds it.

Epigynous flower

A flower in which the ovary is above the other floral parts (superior ovary).

Gynoecium

The collective female reproductive organs of a flower.

Carpel

The basic unit of the gynoecium; a simple pistil or an individual ovary component.

Apocarpous

Gynoecium with separate carpels not fused.

Syncarpous

Gynoecium with fused carpels forming a single ovary.

Double fertilization

Unique to angiosperms: one sperm fertilizes the egg to form a zygote; another fuses with polar nuclei to form triploid endosperm.

Zygote

The fertilized egg; the first cell of the embryo.

Embryo

The young plant developing within the seed after fertilization.

Endosperm

Nutritive tissue (often triploid) within the seed that feeds the developing embryo.

Pollen grain

The male gametophyte produced in pollen sacs of the anther.

Pollination

Transfer of pollen to a stigma, enabling fertilization.

Fertilization

Fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote (and, in angiosperms, double fertilization with endosperm formation).

Seed

A mature fertilized ovule; contains embryo and often endosperm, protected by a seed coat.

Fruit

The mature ovary (often with surrounding tissue) that contains seeds and aids in dispersal.

Seed coat

The protective outer covering of a seed.

Epicotyl

Part of the embryo above the cotyledons; develops into the shoot.

Hypocotyl

Part of the embryo below the cotyledons; develops into the stem.

Germination

Process by which a seed begins to grow into a seedling.

Photosynthesis

Process by which green plants use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars, releasing oxygen.