Flowers, Fruits, and Seeds

This set of flashcards covers essential vocabulary and concepts regarding flowers, fruits, and seeds, based on lecture notes.

Flowers

Reproductive structures of flowering plants.

Fruits

Matured ovaries of flowers that contain seeds.

Seeds

Embryonic plants encased in a protective coating.

Annual plants

Plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season.

Biennial plants

Plants that complete their life cycle in two growing seasons.

Perennial plants

Plants that live for multiple years and may produce flowers during new growth each season.

Magnoliopsida

Class of flowering plants known as dicots.

Liliopsida

Class of flowering plants known as monocots.

Dicots

Plants with two cotyledons in their seeds.

Monocots

Plants with one cotyledon in their seeds.

Cotyledons

Seed leaves that store food for the plant embryo.

Inflorescence

Group of flowers that bloom together.

Stamen

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

Pistil

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

Receptacle

Swollen end of a peduncle where floral parts attach.

Sepals

Outermost whorl of flower parts, collectively known as calyx.

Petals

Next whorl inside sepals, collectively known as corolla.

Perianth

Collective term for calyx and corolla.

Ovary

Part of the pistil that develops into fruit.

Fleshy fruits

Fruits that have a soft and edible pericarp.

Drupe

A simple fleshy fruit with a hard stony endocarp.

Berry

Fleshy fruit from a compound ovary with more than one seed.

Pome

Fruit where flesh comes from an enlarged floral tube surrounding the ovary.

Dry fruits

Fruits that have a dry pericarp at maturity.

Dehiscent fruits

Fruits that split open at maturity to release seeds.

Indehiscent fruits

Fruits that do not split open at maturity.

Achene

A type of indehiscent fruit with a single seed attached to the pericarp.

Capsule

A dry fruit that splits open to release seeds.

Aggregate fruits

Fruits derived from a single flower with multiple pistils.

Multiple fruits

Fruits derived from several flowers in a single inflorescence.

Germination

The process of a seed beginning to grow.

Scarification

The process of breaking seed dormancy using physical methods.

Epigeous germination

Type of germination where cotyledons emerge above ground.

Hypogeous germination

Type of germination where cotyledons remain below ground.

Seed viability

The ability of a seed to germinate and grow into a healthy plant.

Vivipary

Condition where seeds begin to grow while still attached to the parent plant.

Pollination

The transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma.

Angiosperm

A group of flowering plants that produce seeds enclosed in fruit.

Fruit dispersal

The methods by which seeds are spread to new locations.

Wind dispersal

Seed dispersal method that utilizes wind currents.

Animal dispersal

Seed dispersal method where animals aid in transporting seeds.

Water dispersal

Seed dispersal method where seeds are carried by water.

Seed appendages

Structures on seeds that aid in dispersal, such as wings or hooks.

EdIBILITY

The suitability of a fruit for consumption.

Photosynthesis

Process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy.

Chlorophyll

Green pigment in plants that is essential for photosynthesis.

Xylem

Tissue in plants that conducts water and dissolved minerals upward.

Phloem

Tissue in plants that transports nutrients and sugars.

Androecium

Collective term for all the stamens in a flower.

Gynoecium

Collective term for all the pistils in a flower.