Vascular Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

Definition-based vocabulary flashcards covering plant organs, tissue systems, cell types, and growth patterns from Chapter 35.

Root

An organ that anchors the vascular plant, absorbs minerals and water near the root tips, and stores organic nutrients.

Root hairs

Structures that increase the surface area of the root to facilitate the absorption of minerals and water.

Nodes

The specific points on a stem at which leaves are attached.

Internodes

The segments of the stem located between two nodes.

Axillary buds

Buds that have the potential to form a lateral shoot, otherwise known as a branch.

Terminal bud

A bud located at the shoot tip that causes the elongation of a young shoot.

Leaf blade

The flattened portion of a leaf, which serves as the main photosynthetic organ.

Petiole

The part of the leaf that joins the blade to a node of the stem.

Simple leaf

A leaf characterized by having a single, undivided blade, which may sometimes have deep lobes.

Compound leaf

A leaf where the blade consists of multiple leaflets.

Dermal tissue system

A tissue system consisting of the epidermis and periderm.

Xylem

Vascular tissue that conveys water and minerals upward from the roots.

Phloem

Vascular tissue that transports organic nutrients from sources to sinks.

Ground tissue

Tissue that performs various functions including storage, photosynthesis, and support.

Cell differentiation

The process occurring during development where plant cells undergo specialization in structure and function.

Parenchyma cells

Cells with thin flexible $1^\text{o}$ cell walls that are alive at maturity and carry out most of the plant's metabolism.

Collenchyma cells

Cells with unevenly thickened but flexible $1^\text{o}$ cell walls that are alive at maturity and support young growing stems.

Sclerenchyma cells

Cells with thick, rigid $2^\text{o}$ cell walls that are dead at maturity and provided for support.

Tracheids

Thin, tubular xylem cells that are non-living at maturity and have cell walls containing pits, which are thin regions with only $1^\text{o}$ cell walls.

Vessel elements

Short, wide tubular cells found in the xylem that are non-living at maturity.

Sieve-tube members

The conducting cells of the phloem that are alive but lack many organelles.

Companion cells

Non-conducting phloem cells that are alive and provide support to sieve-tube members.

Apical meristems

Meristems located at the tips of roots and in the buds of shoots that drive primary growth.

Primary Growth

The process of elongation in shoots and roots.

Lateral meristems

Meristems, specifically the vascular and cork cambium, that run parallel to the long axis and provide secondary growth.

Secondary Growth

Growth that adds thickness to woody plants.

Root cap

A structure that covers and protects the apical meristem of the root.

Pericycle

The outermost cell layer in the vascular cylinder from which lateral roots arise.

Shoot apical meristem

A dome-shaped mass of dividing cells at the tip of the terminal bud responsible for increasing stem length.

Heartwood

Older layers of secondary xylem that no longer transport water and are often clogged with resins.

Sapwood

Younger layers of xylem that are still active in transporting water.

Bark

All tissues external to the vascular cambium, including the secondary phloem and the periderm.

Cork cambium

A meristem that gives rise to the periderm, the protective covering of the secondary plant body.

Lenticels

Specific areas in the periderm that allow for gas exchange between the internal tissues and the outside air.