3. Vocabulary Flashcards
Sporophyll
specialized leaves that play a crucial role in the reproductive processes of certain plants by producing spores
Whorl
circular arrangement of plant organs that emerge from the same node on a stem. This structural organization plays a significant role in the plant’s growth and reproductive success, contributing to efficient light capture and effective floral arrangements
Receptacle
a vital component of a flower that serves as the base from which all other floral parts arise. Its structural and functional significance contributes to the flower’s overall reproductive success and efficiency in attracting pollinators
Pedicel
the stalk that supports a single flower or a flower cluster, playing a crucial role in providing structural support, facilitating nutrient transport, and optimizing the flower’s position for effective pollination
Peduncle
the main stalk that supports an entire flower cluster (inflorescence) or a single flower in certain plants. It connects the flowering part to the main stem or branch of the plant
Sepals
the protective, leaf-like outer structures of a flower that collectively form the calyx. They play a vital role in safeguarding the developing flower bud and often persist after blooming, sometimes contributing to photosynthesis
Calyx
the protective outer layer of a flower, made up of sepals that enclose the bud before it blooms. It plays a vital role in safeguarding the developing flower and, in some cases, provides structural support and photosynthesis
Corolla
the whorl of petals in a flower, forming its colorful and often fragrant part. Its primary function is to attract pollinators, enhancing the plant’s reproductive success
Perianth
the collective term for the outer parts of a flower, comprising both the calyx (sepals) and corolla (petals). It serves as the non-reproductive structure of the flower, typically enclosing and protecting the reproductive organs and helping attract pollinators
Stamens
male reproductive organs of a flower. They produce and release pollen, which contains the male gametes necessary for fertilization. The collection of stamens in a flower is known as the androecium
Pistils/Carpels
the female reproductive part of a flower. It is centrally located and typically consists of three main parts: the stigma, style, and ovary. The pistil is responsible for receiving pollen, facilitating fertilization, and housing the ovules, which develop into seeds after fertilization
Androecium
collective term for all the stamens (male reproductive organs) in a flower. It is the male reproductive whorl of a flower, typically surrounding the central pistil or gynoecium (female reproductive part). The androecium’s primary role is to produce and release pollen, facilitating the fertilization process.
Filament
the slender stalk-like part of a stamen, which supports the anther, positioning it to maximize pollen dispersal. Together, the filament and anther make up the stamen, the male reproductive structure in a flower
Anther
the pollen-producing part of a stamen, which is the male reproductive organ of a flower. It is typically located at the top of the filament and plays a crucial role in the reproductive process of flowering plants
Sporangium (sporangia, plural)
a spore-producing structure found in plants, fungi, and algae, essential for reproduction and dispersal. It varies in shape and size across different organisms and plays a vital role in the life cycle by generating and releasing spores that can develop into new individuals
Microsporangia
specialized structures in certain plants that produce and contain microspores, which develop into male gametophytes (specifically pollen grains) during the reproductive process
Microspore
haploid spores produced in the male reproductive structures of seed and some vascular plants. They are essential for plant reproduction, as they develop into pollen grains that carry male gametes for fertilization. The formation and dispersal of microspores are crucial steps in the reproductive cycle of flowering plants and gymnosperms.
Megasporangia
specialized structures in plants that produce megaspores, which are essential for female gametophyte formation. They play a crucial role in plant reproduction by facilitating the development and protection of megaspores until fertilization occurs
Megaspore
haploid spores produced in the female reproductive structures of plants, critical for the formation of female gametophytes. They are essential for plant reproduction, as they develop into structures that will participate in fertilization, ensuring the continuation of plant species
Spores
specialized reproductive cells that can develop into a new organism without the need for fertilization. Spores serve as a means of asexual reproduction
Gametophyte
a haploid stage in the life cycle of plants and some algae that produces gametes. It is essential for sexual reproduction, facilitating the formation of the diploid sporophyte after fertilization
Gynoecium
the female reproductive part of a flower, composed of one or more carpels that contain ovules. It is crucial for sexual reproduction in flowering plants, facilitating the process of fertilization and the subsequent development of seeds.
Stigma
receptive surface of the gynoecium (female reproductive part) of a flower where pollen grains land and germinate during the process of pollination. It is a crucial component of the carpel, along with the style and ovary.
Style
the slender, elongated structure that connects the stigma (the pollen-receptive part) to the ovary (the part containing the ovules) within the gynoecium (the female reproductive part of the flower)
Ovary
the enlarged basal portion of the gynoecium (the female reproductive structure) that contains one or more ovules. It plays a critical role in the reproductive process of flowering plants by housing the ovules that, upon fertilization, develop into seeds.
Ovule
the female reproductive structure in flowering plants, located within the ovary. They contain the egg cell and develop into seeds upon fertilization
Inflorescence
the arrangement and pattern of flowers on a plant. It describes how flowers cluster together on a stem and can vary widely among different species
Complete flowers
contains all four of the essential floral parts. Sepal, petal, stamens, pistils
Incomplete flowers
lacks one or more of the four essential parts
Perfect flowers
Perfect flowers, also known as bisexual flowers, contain both male and female reproductive structures. Stamens and pistils
Radial symmetry
flowers that can be divided into multiple identical halves around a central axis
Bilateral symmetry
flowers that can only be divided into two identical halves along a single plane. This means that there is a distinct left and right side, and only one specific cut through the flower will produce mirror-image halves
Dioecious
have separate male and female individuals. This means that individual plants are either male, producing only pollen, or female, producing only ovules and fruits. As a result, both male and female plants are needed for reproduction, leading to cross-pollination
Monoecious
have both male and female reproductive structures on the same individual plant. This means that a single plant can produce both pollen and ovules, allowing for self-pollination or cross-pollination with other plants
Microsporogenesis
the process by which microspores are formed in the anthers of flowering plants (angiosperms) during the development of pollen grains
Microgametogenensis
the process that occurs following microsporogenesis, where the haploid microspores develop into male gametes, specifically pollen grains, in flowering plants (angiosperms). This process involves the formation of the male gametophyte, which is crucial for sexual reproduction
Megasporogenesis
the process by which megaspores are formed in the ovules of flowering plants (angiosperms) during the development of female gametes. This process is a crucial part of female gametogenesis and occurs within the ovary of the flower
Megagametogenesis
the process that follows megasporogenesis, involving the development of the functional megaspore into the female gametophyte (embryo sac) in flowering plants (angiosperms). This process occurs within the ovule and is crucial for sexual reproduction
Double fertilization – how does this occur?
a process unique to angiosperms (flowering plants), where two fertilization events occur in the ovule, involving two sperm cells
haploid
cells that contain a single set of chromosomes. This is half the number of chromosomes found in most of the plant’s cells, which are typically diploid (2N) with two sets.
The haploid stage in plants is part of their life cycle, known as the gametophyte stage. Haploid cells are produced through meiosis, a special type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half. These haploid cells then develop into male and female gametes (sperm and egg cells)
diploid
cells that contain two sets of chromosomes, one set from each parent. This is the standard chromosome number for most of the plant’s cells and represents the sporophyte stage of the plant’s life cycle
begins when a haploid egg and a haploid sperm combine during fertilization to form a diploid zygote. This zygote grows and develops into the mature plant body, which is diploid.
how pollen develops & in what structures
develops in the male reproductive organs of a flowering plant, specifically within the anthers, which are part of the stamen (the male reproductive structure). The process of pollen formation is called microsporogenesis
how an egg develops and in what structure
the egg develops in the female reproductive structure called the ovule, which is located within the ovary of the flower. The process of egg formation is called megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis
Microsporophyte
diploid cell in plants that undergoes meiosis to produce microspores, which eventually develop into pollen grains (the male gametophytes). In flowering plants, these microsporocytes are found within the anthers
Sporogenous tissues
specialized groups of cells within the reproductive organs of plants that give rise to spores
Tapetum
a layer of nutritive cells found within the anthers of flowering plants. It surrounds the developing pollen sacs
Microgametes
male gametes (sperm cells) in plants, specifically produced within pollen grains, which are the male gametophytes. In flowering plants, these microgametes are involved in the fertilization process, where they combine with the female gametes (eggs) to form a zygote
tube nucleus
one of the two nuclei formed in a pollen grain of flowering plants. It is produced when the pollen grain’s single nucleus divides to form two distinct cells
generative nucleus
one of the two nuclei formed in a pollen grain during its development. It is produced when the microspore undergoes mitosis to form a pollen grain with two cells
funiculus
a stalk-like structure that attaches the ovule to the ovary wall in flowering plants. It serves as a conduit for nutrients and water from the parent plant to the developing ovule
micropyle
a small opening or pore in the integuments (protective layers) of the ovule in flowering plants. It allows for the entry of the pollen tube during fertilization
tetraploid
a cell or organism that has four sets of chromosomes, represented as 4n
antipodals
the three cells found at the opposite end of the embryo sac in the ovule of flowering plants. They are located near the micropyle, at the end furthest from the point where the pollen tube enters
Aggregate vs multiple
Aggregate fruits develop from multiple ovaries of one flower
multiple fruits develop from the ovaries of multiple flowers
Synergids
two specialized cells found in the embryo sac of flowering plants. They are located next to the egg cell
polar nuclei
two haploid nuclei found in the central cell of the embryo sac in flowering plants. These nuclei play a critical role in the process of double fertilization
endosperm
a tissue found in the seeds of flowering plants, formed as a result of double fertilization
meiosis
reduction division
a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes by half, producing four daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the original cell. These daughter cells are gametes
mitosis
cell divison
a type of cell division where a single cell divides to produce two identical daughter cells, each with the same number of chromosomes as the original cell
