Plant Morphology Flashcards
alternate leaves
leaf placement is on multiple sides and not even with each other
opposite leaves
leaf placement is on different sides but leaves are even with each other
whorled leaves
leaf placement is neither on specific sides nor are they even with each other
sub-opposite leaves
leaf placement is on different sides but not quite even with each other (slightly diagonal)
simple leaf
the leaf has only one main leaf (no leaflets)
compound leaf
the leaf is more of a leaflet with multiple smaller leaves clumped together to form the larger ‘compound leaf’
pinnate leaf
a type of compound leaf with leaves opposite each other
palmate leaf
a type of compound leaf with all coming out from the same point
bi-pinnate leaf
a type of compound leaf that is virtually made up of a leaflets with smaller leaflets branching off of it
even compound pinnate
a compound pinnate leaflet with an even number off leaves
odd compound pinnate
a compound pinnate leaflet with an odd number of leaves
rachis
the central stalk of a compound leaf
blade
the overall leaf shape
apex
the tip of a leaf
midrib
the vein in the middle of a leaf (main vein)
sinus
an indentation in a leaf
lobe
an area in a leaf that juts out
venation
the veins of a leaf
margin
the edge of a leaf
base
the bottom of a leaf
petiole
the stalk connecting the blade to the plant
stipule
any extra appendages on a leaf (ex thorns, smaller leaves, etc)
bud
the flowering part of leaf at base/bottom of petiole
acute apex
smaller than 90 degrees
acuminate apex
tapered (does not quite come to a point)
mucronate apex
squares off with the top of the leaf
obtuse apex
greater than 90 degrees
entire margins
smooth leaf edge with no teeth
crenate margins
rounded teeth on leaf edge
sinuate margins
irregular curves on leaf edge
dentate margins
about 90 degree angle teeth on leaf edge
serrate margins
smaller teeth on leaf edge
doubly serrate margins
leaf edge with teeth on teeth
glabrous
leaf surface without hairs (smooth)
pubescent
leaf surface covered with hairs (fuzzy)
glaucous
leaf surface covered with fine bluish-white wax (waxy)
terminal bud
bud on top of stem
lateral bud
buds on sides of stem
bud scales
armor for forming buds
leaf scar
mark left after leaf falls off
terminal bud scale scar
scar left by terminal bud
vascular bundle scars
small holes left where leaf fell off from the ducts that moved xylem and phloem into the leaf
lenticels
used for gas exchange in plant
pith
the center of the stem
node
the location of the buds on the stem
internode
the space between the nodes (buds)
absent bud
there is no tip to the bud (stem just ends)
double terminal bud
two separate ‘buds’ that normally still have a tip between them
collateral buds
multiple buds growing together around the stem
cuneate leaf base
a type of leaf base that is acute (V shape)
oblique leaf base
a type of leaf base that is crooked/diagonal
obtuse leaf base
a type of base that is round
truncate leaf base
a type of base that is straight
cordate leaf base
a type of base that juts out
ovate leaf base
a type of base that is obtuse often with an acute apex (same as obtuse base)
solid pith
the pith is uniform in structure
chambered pith
the pith is compartmented
hollow pith
the pith is hollow
definition of tree
a plant which can be grown to s single trunk and is over 20 feet tall
definition of shrub
a plant that usually has more than one stem at ground level and is not taller than 20 feet.
definition of vine
trailing or climbing plants that require some upright support
definition of groundcover
prostrate or spreading plants that remain close to the ground
sepal
the leaves under the petals of a flower
bract
the first covering of a flower bud
indeterminant
continually grows and usually flowers from the bottom to the top
determinant
the growth stops, the plant flowers from top down
incomplete
missing floral parts
complete
has all floral parts
perfect
has stamens and pistil
imperfect
missing sexual parts (stamen or pistil)
dioecious
male and female flowers are on different plants
monoecious
male and female flowers are on same plant
polygamo-dioecious
perfect flowers AND one sex flowers
inflorescence
flower
spike
flower that comes directly off stem-no pedicel
raceme
flowers have pedicel (stalk attaching flower to plant)
coryumb
Outer pedicels are longer than top
panicle
has multiple recemes (pinnate)-branches off from central stalk
root needs
water, oxygen, space, and nutrients
opportunistic roots
grow wherever there is an opportunity to
xylem
carries water and nutrients from the roots (goes up)-located in center of tree
phloem
carries sugar and water to the roots (goes down)-located within bark
cambium
the meristem where the plant grows from (makes new xylem and phloem)-it is located right under the bark
Climax Trees
Store the majority of their energy, use only a little for growth and a little more for defense ex: Sugar Maple, Hickory, Beech…
Pioneer Trees
Use majority of energy for growth and very little for storage or defense (grow faster than the disease to outrun it-die from lack of energy instead) ex: Red Maple, Norway Maple, Ash (or intermediate), Honeylocust, Sweetgum, Walnut, Tuliptree, Silver Maple…
atropunicea
purple leaved plant
pendula
weeping/drooping leaves
fastigiata
grows straight up
young v old
the difference is the age of the branches/plants
juvenile v mature
the difference is whether they can reproduce or not
Cone of Juvenility
trees produce seeds on the youngest mature branches (at the very tips) but do not produce seeds on the branches right by the trunk (not yet mature) creating a cone of juvenility by the center. These juvenile branches keep their leaves when the rest of the tree drops them.
products of shade trees
shade, cooling (transpiration), erosion control, habitat for other plants and animals, aesthetics, organic matter, carbon sequestration
Intermediate trees
halfway between pioneer and climax, they store some energy and use some energy ex: Ash, Lindens
Succession Steps
- annual grasses 2. perennial grasses 3. goldenrod 4. shrubs 5. pioneer trees 6. intermediate trees 7. climax trees
Succession Rules
- trees must start with pioneers or will not survive
- plants change the environment around them (usually to their detriment-each stage kills itself by making conditions perfect for the next stage to take over
- climax forests have a stable biomass (pioneers and intermediate forests keep adding to the biomass)
Gymnosperms
(Coniferales Taxales and Ginkgoales) have naked seeds
alternate bearing
plants that bear fruits in alternate years (apple)
Cileate margins
Margins have hairs
Perfoliate
Leaves joined around stem
Calyx
Area consisting of the sepals
Corolla
The petals of a flower as a group
Lanceolate
Shaped like a lance: tapered with a sharp tip
Syncarp
An fleshy aggregate fruit (ex: blackberry, pineapple)
Peduncle
Stalk of inflorescence or of a solitary flower
Layering
Process by which a branch that touches the ground takes root and forms a new plant, detaching itself from the parent plant
Revolute margins
Margins are somewhat rolled under the leaf
Cyme
A usually flat-topped or convex flower cluster in which the main axis and each branch end in a flower opens before the flower below or to the side of it
Anemophilous
Pollinated by wind-dispersed pollen
Umbel
A flat-topped or round flower cluster in which the flower stems all arise from about the same point, characteristic of members of the parsley family
Nectary
A nectar-secreting flower either within a flower or on a leaf or other plant structure
Superior ovary (hypogynous)
The ovary is above the perianth
Half-inferior ovary (perigynous)
The ovary is about half above the perianth, half inserted into the stalk of the flower
Inferior ovary (epigynous)
The ovary is fully below the perianth
Perianth
Area of a flower consisting of the calyx (sepals) and corolla (petals)
Actinomorphic
Radially symmetrical
Zygomorphic
Bilaterally symmetrical
Reticulate Venation
The veins form a network off of the prominent vein (midrib)
-can be pinnately or palmately reticulate
Parallel Venation
All of the veins run parallel to each other
-can be pinnately or palmately parallel
Emarginate
A leaf blade with a shallow notch at the apex
