Plant Morphology, Diversity and Evolution

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on plant morphology, diversity, and evolution concepts.

Dicot

A flowering plant with two cotyledons in its seed.

Monocot

A flowering plant with a single cotyledon in its seed.

Meristem

Plant tissue responsible for growth, consisting of undifferentiated cells.

Vascular tissue

Plant tissue that facilitates the transport of nutrients and water.

Xylem

Vascular tissue is responsible for the transport of water and minerals upward from the roots

Phloem

Vascular tissue is responsible for the transport of sugars and nutrients from the leaves to the rest of the plant

Gametophyte

The haploid stage in the plant life cycle that produces gametes.

Sporophyte

The diploid stage in the plant life cycle that produces spores.

Stomata

Small openings on the leaf surface that regulate gas exchange.

Guard cells

Cells that control the opening and closing of stomata.

Photosynthesis

Process used by plants to convert light energy into chemical energy.

Fertilization

The fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote.

Angiosperms

Flowering plants that produce seeds within a fruit.

Bryophytes

Non-vascular plants, including mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.

Alternation of generations

The life cycle of plants involving both haploid and diploid stages.

Pollination

The transfer of pollen from male anthers to female stigma.

Seed dispersal

The process by which seeds are spread away from the parent plant.

Fruit

The mature ovary of a flower containing seeds.

Carpels

The structures that form the female reproductive part of a flower.

Sporangia

Structures in which spores are produced.

Stipule

A small leaf-like structure at the base of a leaf stalk.

Petiole

The stalk that attaches a leaf blade to the stem.

Rhizoids

Structures that anchor bryophytes and help in water absorption.

Frond

The leaf of a fern.

Sori

Clusters of sporangia on the underside of fern fronds.

Lycophytes

A group of vascular plants that includes club mosses.

Gymnosperms

Seed-producing plants that do not form flowers or fruits.

Euphylls

True leaves with complex structures in vascular plants.