Botany terms

  • Anther: The part of the stamen that produces pollen.

  • Apical Dominance: The suppression of lateral bud growth by the terminal bud.

  • Auxins: Plant hormones that promote cell growth and elongation.

  • Berry: A fleshy fruit developed from a compound ovary with multiple seeds.

  • Calyx: All the sepals of a flower collectively.

  • Catabolism: Enzymatic reactions that break bonds and release energy.

  • Chlorophyll: A pigment in green plants that absorbs light energy for photosynthesis.

  • Cotyledons: Seed leaves that are the first to enlarge during germination.

  • Critical Day Length: The maximum or minimum day length required for a plant to initiate flowering.

  • Cytokinins: Plant hormones that promote cell division.

  • Dehiscent Fruit: A dry fruit that splits open at maturity to release seeds.

  • Differentiation: The process by which cells develop different forms and functions.

  • Diffusion: The movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

  • Diploid: Having two sets of chromosomes (2n).

  • Drupe: A fleshy fruit with a single seed enclosed in a stony endocarp (pit).

  • Endocarp: The inner boundary around seeds in a fruit.

  • Ethylene: A plant hormone that regulates fruit ripening and senescence.

  • Exocarp: The outer skin of a fruit.

  • Filament: The stem-like structure that supports the anther in a stamen.

  • Gametophyte: The haploid generation in plants that produces gametes.

  • Gibberellins: Plant hormones that stimulate stem elongation and seed germination.

  • Gravitropism: Growth in response to gravity.

  • Haploid: Having one set of chromosomes (n).

  • Indehiscent Fruit: A dry fruit that does not split open at maturity; the seed remains enclosed.

  • Meiosis: The type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in sex cells (gametes).

  • Mesocarp: The fleshy tissue between the endocarp and exocarp in a fruit.

  • Osmosis: The diffusion of water through a semipermeable membrane.

  • Ovary: The base of the pistil in a flower, where ovules develop.

  • Pedicle: The stalk that connects the flower to the stem.

  • Pericarp: The outer wall of a fruit, derived from the ovary wall.

  • Petals: The brightly colored portions of a flower that attract pollinators.

  • Photoperiodism: The regulation of physiology and development in response to day length.

  • Phototropism: Growth towards a light source.

  • Pistil: The female reproductive structure in a flower, consisting of the stigma, style, and ovary.

  • Plumule: The rudimentary stem in a seed embryo.

  • Radicle: The rudimentary root in a seed embryo.

  • Receptacle: The part of the flower stalk where the flower parts are attached.

  • Scarification: The process of damaging the seed coat to promote germination.

  • Seed Coat: The protective outer covering of a seed.

  • Senescence: The process of aging and eventual death in plant cells or organs.

  • Sepals: The green, leaf-like structures beneath the petals of a flower.

  • Sporophyte: The diploid generation in plants that produces spores.

  • Stamen: The male reproductive structure in a flower, consisting of the anther and filament.

  • Stigma: The receptive surface at the top of the pistil that receives pollen.

  • Style: The stalk connecting the stigma to the ovary in a flower.

  • Translocation: The movement of sugars from a source to a sink in plants.

  • Transpiration: The evaporation of water from the stomata of plants.

  • Tropisms: Permanent plant movements in response to external stimuli.

  • Turgid: Firm or swollen due to water pressure in plant cells.