Biol 1011 Plants Lecture 1 2025

Botany

The study of plants.

Embryophyta

The group of land plants characterized by the presence of an embryo.

Sporophyte

The diploid generation in the alternation of generations that produces spores.

Gametophyte

The haploid generation in the alternation of generations that produces gametes.

Plasmodermata

Extensions of the cell membrane through pores in the cell wall of plants.

Cuticle

A waxy protective layer covering the epidermis of land plants to reduce water loss.

Vascular tissue

Tissue responsible for transporting water and nutrients in plants.

Sporopollenin

Durable polymer found in the walls of plant spores and pollen, protecting them from decay.

Chlorophyll b

An accessory pigment in plants that helps absorb light for photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.

Terrestrial ecosystems

Ecosystems that are land-based and support a variety of life forms, including plants.

Viridiplantae

A clade that includes all green plants, including land plants and green algae.

Algal ancestors

The ancestral forms from which modern land plants evolved, including green algae.

Colonization of land

The process by which plants adapted to live on terrestrial habitats, involving significant evolutionary changes.

Photosynthetic eukaryotes

Organisms that have a nucleus and perform photosynthesis, including plants and certain algae.

Secondary compounds

Chemical compounds produced by plants that are not directly involved in growth, development, or reproduction, often used for defense.

Taxol

A chemotherapy drug derived from the yew tree, used to treat cancer.

Chloro-plast

An organelle in plant cells where photosynthesis takes place.

Plant secondary compounds

Compounds produced by plants that can have medicinal properties.

Alternation of generations

The life cycle pattern of plants involving alternating between haploid and diploid forms.