Introduction to Plant Biology

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on plant biology, including definitions of terms related to plant classification, cellular structure, and biological principles.

Plant Biology

The scientific study of plants, their evolution, tissues, anatomy, morphology, and reproduction.

Cell Theory

A fundamental principle stating that all living organisms are composed of cells, the cell is the basic unit of life, and all cells arise from pre-existing cells.

Binomial Nomenclature

A system for naming species by using two terms, the first indicating the genus and the second the species.

Phylogeny

The evolutionary history and relationships among species, often depicted as a tree.

Homology

The existence of shared ancestry between a pair of structures, or genes, in different taxa.

Photosynthesis

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

Eukaryotes

Cells that contain a nucleus and other organelles enclosed within membranes.

Prokaryotes

Single-celled organisms without a nucleus or other membrane-bound organelles.

Embryophytes

A group that includes all land plants, characterized by the presence of an embryo during their life cycle.

Tracheophytes

Plants with vascular tissues that allow them to transport water and nutrients.

Angiosperms

Flowering plants that produce seeds enclosed within a carpel.

Gymnosperms

Seed-producing plants whose seeds are not enclosed by an ovary wall.

Cladistics

A method of classifying species based on shared derived characteristics.

Sporophyte

The diploid phase in the life cycle of plants that produces spores.

Gametes

Reproductive cells (sperm and ova) that unite during sexual reproduction.

Vacuole

A large compartment in plant cells used for storage and maintaining turgor pressure.

Plasmodesmata

Microscopic channels that traverse the cell walls of plant cells, facilitating communication and transport.