Horticulture Unit 1 Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards for Horticulture Unit 1, covering plant classification, cell biology, tissues, organs, fruit types, leaf characteristics, flower anatomy, dry fruits, seed germination, cell division, and genetics.

Plant scientific name formatting

Genus capitalized, species lowercase, both italicized (e.g., Rosa canina).

Hybrid scientific name formatting

Use “×” symbol before hybrid name or between parent genera/species.

Annuals

Plants that complete their life cycle in one year.

Biennials

Plants that complete their life cycle in two years.

Perennials

Plants that live for many years.

Horticulture

The study of garden crops.

Agronomy

The study of field crops.

Forestry

The study of trees.

Botany

The study of plant science.

Monocots

Plants with one cotyledon, parallel leaf veins, fibrous roots, and flower parts typically in multiples of three.

Dicots

Plants with two cotyledons, netted leaf veins, a taproot system, and flower parts typically in multiples of four or five.

Plant cell wall composition

Cellulose.

Plasma membrane (plant cell)

A selectively permeable boundary that controls movement of substances in and out of the cell.

Nucleus (plant cell)

The control center of the cell, containing DNA.

Plastids

Organelles in plant cells, including chloroplasts (photosynthesis), chromoplasts (pigment), and amyloplasts (starch storage).

Chloroplasts

Plastids responsible for photosynthesis.

Chromoplasts

Plastids responsible for pigment storage.

Amyloplasts

Plastids responsible for starch storage.

Vacuole (plant cell)

A large storage sac for water, nutrients, and waste products.

Mitochondria (plant cell)

The 'powerhouse' of the cell, responsible for producing ATP.

Meristems

Regions of active cell division and growth in plants (apical, lateral, intercalary).

Dermal tissue

The protective outer covering of a plant (e.g., epidermis, cuticle).

Ground tissue

Plant tissue functioning in photosynthesis, storage, and support (parenchyma, collenchyma, sclerenchyma).

Vascular tissue

Plant tissue responsible for transporting water and nutrients (xylem, phloem).

Xylem

Part of vascular tissue that primarily transports water.

Phloem

Part of vascular tissue that primarily transports nutrients.

Major plant organs

Roots, stems, leaves, flowers.

Roots (function)

Anchor the plant, absorb water and minerals, and store food.

Stems (function)

Support leaves and flowers, and transport substances via xylem and phloem.

Leaves (function)

The main site of photosynthesis and gas exchange.

Flowers (function)

Reproductive structures responsible for sexual reproduction.

Simple fruit

A fruit developed from a single ovary (e.g., peach, apple).

Aggregate fruit

A fruit developed from multiple ovaries within a single flower (e.g., strawberry, raspberry).

Multiple fruit

A fruit developed from the ovaries of multiple flowers fused together (e.g., pineapple).

Palmate venation

A type of leaf venation where many veins spread from a single point.

Pinnate venation

A type of leaf venation with a single main midrib and side branches.

Alternate leaf arrangement

A leaf arrangement where one leaf is present per node, alternating sides.

Opposite leaf arrangement

A leaf arrangement where two leaves are present per node, opposite each other.

Whorled leaf arrangement

A leaf arrangement where three or more leaves are present per node in a circular pattern.

Main flower parts

Sepals, petals, stamens (male reproductive parts), and pistils (female reproductive parts).

Sepals

The outermost, often green and leaf-like, parts of a flower that enclose the bud.

Petals

Often brightly colored parts of a flower that attract pollinators.

Stamens

The male reproductive parts of a flower.

Pistils

The female reproductive parts of a flower.

Inflorescence types

Various arrangements of flowers on a plant stem, including spike, raceme, panicle, umbel, head, and corymb.

Dehiscent dry fruit

Dry fruits that split open at maturity to release seeds (e.g., follicle, legume, silique, capsule).

Follicle (fruit type)

A dehiscent dry fruit that splits along one seam.

Legume (fruit type)

A dehiscent dry fruit that splits along two seams, forming a pod.

Silique (fruit type)

A dehiscent dry fruit that splits along two seams but is typically longer than wide and not a pod.

Capsule (fruit type)

A dehiscent dry fruit that splits along many seams.

Indehiscent dry fruit

Dry fruits that do not split open at maturity to release seeds (e.g., caryopsis, achene, samara, nut, schizocarp).

Caryopsis

An indehiscent dry fruit where the pericarp is fused with the seed coat (e.g., corn).

Achene

An indehiscent dry fruit where the pericarp is free from the seed coat (e.g., sunflower).

Samara

An indehiscent dry fruit with a winged seed.

Nut (fruit type)

An indehiscent dry fruit with a hard, woody shell.

Schizocarp

An indehiscent dry fruit that splits into individual, one-seeded parts upon maturity.

Seed germination requirements

Water, oxygen, proper temperature, and sometimes light.

Imbibition

The first stage of seed germination, involving water uptake by the seed.

Mitosis

Cell division producing two identical diploid cells, involved in growth and asexual reproduction.

Meiosis

Cell division producing haploid gametes, involved in sexual reproduction.

Haploid (n)

Containing one set of chromosomes.

Diploid (2n)

Containing two sets of chromosomes.

Polyploidy

A condition where an organism has more than two sets of chromosomes.

F1 generation

The first-generation hybrid offspring resulting from a parent cross.

F2 generation

The second-generation offspring resulting from a cross between two F1 individuals.

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a particular gene.

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a particular gene.

Inbreeding depression

Negative effects that result from the accumulation of harmful recessive alleles due to inbreeding.

Hybrid vigor (heterosis)

A phenomenon where hybrid offspring exhibit superior growth and vigor compared to their parents.