Plant 3 Flashcards
What are the two main parts of a plant?
Roots and shoot
The shoot includes stems and leaves.
List the four functions of roots.
- Anchor the plant into soil
- Absorb water and minerals
- Store starch and nutrients
- Transport substances to the rest of the plant
Each function plays a crucial role in the plant’s survival and growth.
What is the main function of leaves?
Photosynthesis
Leaves are critical for converting light energy into chemical energy.
What are the functions of stems?
- Support leaves
- Transport sugars from leaves down
- Store starch and nutrients
- Transport water, minerals, nutrients
Stems play a vital role in the plant’s overall structure and nutrient distribution.
What are flowering plants also known as?
Angiosperms
Angiosperms are characterized by their flowering and seed-producing capabilities.
Into how many subclasses can flowering plants be split?
Two
The subclasses are Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons.
What are the characteristics of Monocotyledons (like grass, scallions, tulips)? [5]
- Vascular bundles randomly scattered
- Only one cotyledon (seed leaves)
- Flower parts in multiples of 3
- Narrow leaves with parallel veins
- Fibrous roots (like whiskers)
Monocots typically have simpler structures in comparison to dicots.
What are the characteristics of Dicotyledons (like maple tree, oak tree, bushes)? [5]
- Vascular bundles in a ring
- Two cotyledons (seed leaves)
- Flower parts in multiples of 4 or 5
- Broad leaves with net venation
- Tap root system
## Footnote
Dicots generally have more complex structures.
Fill in the blank: The first leaves of a seed are called _______.
Cotyledons
Cotyledons are essential for the initial growth of the plant.
What are the three parts of a seed?
Seed coat, endosperm, embryo
The seed coat protects the seed, the endosperm stores nutrients, and the embryo is the starting plant.
What is the function of the endosperm in a seed?
To store nutrients for the starting plant
Endosperm provides essential nutrients during the early stages of plant growth.
What type of root do dicots typically have?
Taproot
Taproots are long, thick roots that extend deep into the soil.
List three common plants that have taproots.
- Carrots
- Beets
- Radishes
These plants are examples of dicots with taproots.
What type of root do monocots typically have?
Fibrous root
Fibrous roots extend laterally and are common in plants like grasses.
What are adventitious roots?
Roots that grow from the stems
Examples include roots from orchids that develop above ground.
What is the outermost layer of the root called?
Epidermis
The epidermis protects the inner parts of the root and absorbs minerals.
What is the function of the cortex in the root?
To store starch and transport water
The cortex is located beneath the epidermis and plays a key role in nutrient storage and water transport.
How does water move through the root cells?
Osmosis
Osmosis is the process by which water moves from areas of higher concentration to lower concentration across cell membranes.
What is the endodermis?
An inner layer of cortex that is wax-coated
What does the Casparian strip do?
It surrounds the endodermal cells and prevents water from flooding around the endodermis.
List the tissues found in roots from outside to the center.
- Epidermis
- Cortex
- Endodermis
- Caspian strip
- Xylem
- Phloem
Understanding the organization of root tissues is important for studying plant anatomy.
What are the two main functions of stems?
- Support the leaves
- Transport water and minerals
Stems are critical for both structural integrity and nutrient movement in plants.
What are the two main types of stems?
- Woody stems
- Herbaceous stems
These types differ in structure and durability.
True or False: Herbaceous stems survive winter each year.
False
Herbaceous stems typically die and do not survive winter.
What characterizes woody stems?
Contain tough, hard tissues called wood and can survive winter.
Woody stems are often found in trees and shrubs.
Where is xylem located in vascular bundles?
Always closer to the center of the stem.
This anatomical arrangement is important for efficient water transport.
Where is phloem located in vascular bundles?
Closer to the outside of the stem.
This positioning facilitates sugar transport to the plant’s outer parts.
What happens to woody stems over time?
They grow thicker due to the vascular cambium.
The vascular cambium is responsible for the production of new xylem and phloem.
What is the role of cork in woody stems?
Protects and is made up of old phloem and cork tissue.
Cork serves as a protective barrier for the plant.
Fill in the blank: The vascular cambium produces new _______ each year.
xylem
The production of new xylem is crucial for the growth of woody plants.
What is a characteristic of herbaceous dicots in terms of vascular bundles?
The bundles are arranged in a ring with a thin layer of vascular cambium in between xylem and phloem.
This arrangement is important for their structural integrity.
What is the function of cork in trees?
Prevents water loss
How can you determine the age of a tree?
By counting the annual rings
What are rhizomes?
Modified stems that are thick and fleshy, growing just under or above soil and producing new shoots
Example: ginger
What are tubers?
Modified stems that grow under soil, fill with starches, and have ‘eyes’ which are buds that grow new shoots
Example: potato
What are bulbs?
Modified leaves wrapped around an underground stem, arranged in layers
Example: onions
