Plant Structure and Function

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to plant structure and function, including cell types, tissues, and their roles in plant physiology.

What are the identifying features of plant cells?

Plant cells are identifiable by their cell walls and large central vacuole.

Parenchyma Cells

Most flexible, thin-walled cells found throughout the plant, involved in storage, photosynthesis, gas exchange, and protection.

Collenchyma Cells

Elongated cells that provide support, have unevenly thickened cell walls, and can undergo cell division when mature.

Sclerenchyma Cells

Mature cells that lack cytoplasm and provide support for the plant with thick, rigid cell walls.

Meristematic tissue

Tissue made of rapidly dividing cells that produce new cells in plants.

Apical meristems

Regions at the tips of roots and stems responsible for primary growth.

Intercalary meristems

Meristems located at one or more locations along a monocot stem.

Lateral meristems

Meristems that increase root and stem diameter through secondary growth.

Vascular cambium

Thin cylinder of meristematic tissue that runs the length of roots or stems.

Epidermis

Layer of cells that makes up the outer covering of a plant.

Guard cells

Cells that change shape to open and close stomata, allowing gas exchange.

Trichomes

Hairlike projections on epidermal cells that prevent predation.

Root hairs

Fragile extensions of root epidermal cells that increase surface area for absorption.

Xylem

Water-carrying vascular tissue composed of vessel elements and tracheids.

Phloem

Main food-carrying tissue in vascular plants, consisting of sieve tube members and companion cells.

Sieve tube members

Phloem cells that lack nuclei and ribosomes when mature and transport sugars.

Companion cells

Cells next to sieve tube members with a nucleus, believed to support sieve tube members.

Ground tissue

Tissue not classified as meristematic, dermal, or vascular; includes parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma.

Roots

Structures that are the first to grow from a seed, absorbing water and anchoring the plant.

Root cap

A protective structure covering the tip of a root, consisting of parenchyma cells.

Cortex

The layer of tissue between the epidermis and vascular tissue in roots composed of parenchyma cells.

Endodermis

The inner boundary of the cortex, encircled by the Casparian strip.

Casparian strip

Waterproof strip that forces water to pass through endodermal cells.

Pericycle

Layer directly next to the endodermis that produces lateral roots.

Taproot

A thick root with few smaller lateral roots, used for food storage and deep growth.

Fibrous roots

Numerous branching roots of similar size that grow from a central point.

Pneumatophores

Roots adapted to supply oxygen to submerged roots.

Adventitious roots

Roots that form unusual support structures, often emerging from stems or leaves.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll.

Gas exchange

The process of taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen through stomata.

Plant hormones

Chemical messengers in plants that regulate growth, development, and responses to stimuli.