Botany Flashcards
Bryophytes
Simple non vascular plants such as mosses
CO2
Carbon dioxide. A simple inorganic molecule comprised of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. A by-product of respiration.
Angiosperms
Flowering, seed-bearing, vascular plants
As op. to: gymnosperms, ferns, nonvascular
Cone
Male pollen-bearing and female ova-and-seed-bearing organs of conifers
Cuticle
Waxy protective coating of a leaf
Dispersal
Movement away from location of parent; of plants, typically animal, wind, or water dispersal
Enzyme
A protein that catalyzes a chemical reaction, either helping build or break down a compound
Epidermis
(Of a leaf) outer layer of cells
Evergreen
(Of a plant) the characteristic of retaining functional leaves for at least a full year
(ex: broadleaf evergreen tropical trees, or coniferous needle leaved evergreen trees of the boreal forest)
Ferns
A specific group of nonflowering, nonseed-bearing, vascular plants
Flower
A reproductive unit of a plant (compare with inflorescence)
Forb
An herbaceous, non-grasslike plant…ex: sunflower, iris, violet
Genet
A genetic individual, often made up of multiple vegetative units, sharing resources to some degree (as op to: ramet
Gymnosperms
Nonflowering, seed-bearing, vascular plants ex pines
Inflorescence
The flowering branch; a collection of flowers developed from a single branch ; either a head (ex sunflower), branched, or spike like
Internode
A section of a stem connecting nodes; the region of the stem associated with elongation
Leaf
Primary photosynthetic organ of a plant
Know: classes of shape, simple v. Pinnately compound v. Palmately compound, paired/opposite v. Alternate
Lichen
A type of organism formed by a mutualistic symbiosis btwn lichen-forming fungi and algae. Algae provide photosynthesis, fungus provides mineral nutrients from enviro. Shape can be: crustose, foliose and fruticose growth forms are flat or crust like, leafy, and branching architectures
Life Form
The characteristic vegetative form or appearance of a species at maturity (tree, shrub, herb, etc)
Margin
(Of a leaf) The outer edge: entire, serrated, lobed.
Meristem
Tissue undifferentiated cells that divide and thereby facilitate growth. Vascular cambium is a type.
Mitochondrion
organelle in plant and animal cells responsible for cellular respiration, the breakdown of complex molecules into ATP, the form of energy that can be used by cells.
Mycorrhizae, mycorrhizal fungi
fungi which infect plant roots, and which typically facilitate nutrient and water uptake through increased surface area and extracellular enzymes and acids; typically very important for phosphorus (P) uptake.
Node
a section of a stem containing buds for leaves, flowers or cones.
Nonvascular plants
nonflowering, nonseed-bearing, and nonvascular plants (a.k.a. simple plants, e.g., mosses, liverworts, hornworts).
Perennial
Occurring year after year, as with a plant that lives and completes its life cycle each year
Petals
Non-sexual flower parts typically arrayed around the pistils and stamens
Phloem
Vascular tissue which carries sugar from leaves throughout the rest of the plant
Photosynthesis
One of the key plant processes; the use of light energy to convert CO2 and water into glucose and O2
Pistil
Female, ova-bearing and seed-bearing organ of a flower
Pollination
The process of pollen transfer from the male plant organ to the female organ; typically wind or animal pollinated. If by animal, characteristic colors and shapes (i. moth & butterfly) (ii. bees and wasps) (iii. hummingbirds). Bats can also be important pollinators in the tropics
Primary growth
elongation at the tips of branches and roots, or at the base of grass tillers (see also secondary growth)
Ramet
A vegetative unit, often connected via rhizomes, roots, or stolons; to other such units, which together comprise the complete genet or genetic individual
Rhizome
Underground horizontal stem
Root hair
a fine projection of a root cell wall; increases root surface and water uptake
root
organ responsible for anchoring the plant. Site for mycorrhizal infection, and for nutrient uptake. Usually below ground.
Rosette
a grown form consisting of a short stem with a whorl of leaves close to the ground. ex dandelion
secondary growth
in reference to woody plants, growth due to the vascular cambium that creates xylem and phloem…leading to increased diameter in woody plants
Sepals
leaf-like and petal-like structures protecting the bud and typically arrayed around the petals
Shrub
Multi-stemmed woody plant
Stamen
male pollen-forming organ within a flower
stolon
above-ground horizontal stem, connecting individual vegetative units
Stomate, Stoma
a pore, typically in a leaf, which allows gas exchange (ex CO2 in, Water vapor out)
Plural=stomates, stomata
tiller
A vegetative unit of grass, a shoot
Tracheid
a vessel element most characteristic of conifers
vascular tissue
xylem and phloem
Venation
(of a leaf) the arrangement of veins within a leaf or leaflet: pinnate, palmate, parallel
Vessel element
a single xylem, phloem, or tracheid cell
xylem
vascular tissue which carries water and nutrients from roots, through stems, to leaves
Respiration
the conversion of sugar and O2 into chemical energy, water, and CO2 (as op to photosynthesis)
solar heat energy
radiant energy from the sun that results in heating and evaporation
Transpiration
movement of water upward thru a plant’s vascular system, driven by evaporation from leaves and water tension pulling water from the ground up to the leaves
Serotinous
Referring to the adaptation of requiring intense heat of a fire to open a pine cone to release seeds
Shade leaves
leaves that developed in response to shade, and have anatomical and physiological traits that help to optimize leaf function in that microclimate of shade and which benefit the plant as a whole.
Typically are relatively thin and wide, with reduced lobes and sinuses on margins
sun leaves
leaves that developed in response to direct sunlight, have anatomical and physiological traits that help optimize leaf function in that microclimate of direct sunlight and which benefit the plant as a whole.
Typically relatively thick with a thick water-sealing waxy cuticle on the upper surface and wide with enhanced lobes and sinuses on margins.
