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RHS Level 2 Certificate: Principles Of Plant Growth And Development > Plant Science 1: External Parts Of The Plant > Flashcards

Plant Science 1: External Parts Of The Plant Flashcards

1
Q

True or False: All plants have stems and leaves.

A

False

Some plants like certain monocots do not have stems.

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2
Q

In cacti, which part of the plant is considered the stem?

A

The body of the plant

The spines of cacti are modified leaves.

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3
Q

What is the function of roots in a plant?

A

Anchoring the plant, absorbing water and nutrients, storing nutrients, enabling propagation

Roots can also help plants survive in adverse conditions.

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4
Q

What specialized organs can roots develop to store nutrients?

A

Tubers or potatoes

These adaptations help plants survive winter or dry seasons. Daucus carota (carrot) store food in enlarged tap roots.

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5
Q

What are the primary external parts of a plant?

A

Stems, leaves, and roots

Flowers are temporary in a plant’s life cycle.

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6
Q

True or False: All plants have stems and leaves.

A

False

Some plants like certain monocots do not have stems.

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7
Q

What type of root system do eudicots primarily have?

A

Tap root system

The tap root develops from the radicle, the embryonic root in the seed.

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8
Q

How does a tap root benefit eudicots?

A

Enables deep penetration into the ground to draw up water and nutrients

Tap roots can also store nutrients, as seen in carrots and parsnips.

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9
Q

What happens to lateral roots in some herbaceous perennials?

A

Lateral roots may take over and the tap root disappears

This adaptation can enhance nutrient uptake and stability.

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10
Q

What characterizes the root system of monocots?

A

Fibrous root system without a tap root

Monocots’ roots start at the base of the stem and can be branched.

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11
Q

True or False: Monocots can repair their roots.

A

False

Monocots have no growth tissue behind the tip of their roots.

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12
Q

Fill in the blank: Eudicots start off with a _______.

A

tap root

This root system is fundamental for nutrient and water absorption.

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13
Q

What is a key feature of monocots regarding root production?

A

Can produce new root mass from the base of the stem

This allows for regeneration but limits depth penetration.

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14
Q

What happens to the cells after they are formed at the root tip?

A

The cells elongate, causing the root to grow

This elongation is crucial for root development.

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15
Q

What is the function of the root cap?

A

Protects the root tip as it pushes through the soil

The root cap is essential for safe passage through soil.

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16
Q

How are the cells of the root cap maintained?

A

The cells are constantly replaced by new ones

Old cells break up and help lubricate the root’s passage.

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17
Q

What are root hairs?

A

Elongated cells just behind the root’s growing tip that increase the surface area of roots

Root hairs are short-lived and can number between 200-400 per square millimeter.

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18
Q

What role do root hairs play in plants?

A

They bring roots into contact with more water and nutrients

They significantly enhance the plant’s ability to absorb essential resources.

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19
Q

What are mycorrhizal fungi?

A

Fungi that associate with plant roots to increase surface area for nutrient access

They are particularly important for helping woody plants in poor soils access nutrients like phosphorus.

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20
Q

What can contribute to transplanting shock in plants?

A

Damage to root hairs and mycorrhiza during transplantation

Minimizing this damage is crucial for establishing new plantings.

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21
Q

What is the primary role of stems in plants?

A

To support other plant organs and maximize light interception

This support helps leaves to maximize photosynthesis.

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22
Q

How do stems assist in plant reproduction?

A

By holding flowers in positions for effective pollination and seed distribution

This positioning increases the chances of successful reproduction.

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23
Q

What does the term ‘shoot’ refer to in botany?

A

The stem and its attached leaves and buds

The shoot is crucial for the overall growth and function of the plant.

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24
Q

What type of tissue does stem tissue include?

A

Supportive tissue and vascular tissue

Vascular tissue is responsible for transporting water and nutrients throughout the plant.

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25
Q

What are the two main structural components of eudicot plants?

A

Leaves and buds

Leaves and buds are produced at nodes, with spaces between nodes referred to as internodes.

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26
Q

What is a bud?

A

A compact package of embryonic shoot consisting of immature leaves and dormant meristem tissue

Buds are capable of becoming a growth point.

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27
Q

Where are buds typically found?

A

Woody plants from temperate climates

In perennials, buds may be absent or invisible at ground level, and are usually absent from plants in warmer climates.

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28
Q

What are the two types of buds?

A

Apical (terminal) buds and axillary (lateral) buds

Apical buds are located at the tip of a shoot, while axillary buds are located at the sides.

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29
Q

What is the significance of leaf scars?

A

They show where a leaf or fruit has been attached

Leaf scars can be useful in identifying plants in winter from bare stems.

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30
Q

What are nodes in plant stems?

A

Points where leaves and buds are produced

Nodes are contrasted with internodes, the spaces between them.

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31
Q

What is the primary function of apical buds?

A

To grow next spring

Apical buds are responsible for the upward growth of the plant.

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32
Q

What distinctive feature can be observed on the stems of Aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut)?

A

Large leaf scars

These scars are distinctive and can aid in plant identification during winter.

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33
Q

What are lenticels?

A

Little breaks on the surface of the stem or trunk that allow gaseous exchange

Lenticels enable respiration which needs oxygen and have different shapes depending on the species.

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34
Q

What is the primary function of lenticels in woody plants?

A

To allow gaseous exchange, particularly enabling respiration

This process allows air to diffuse through the bark to living cells below.

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35
Q

How can lenticels be useful in identifying trees and shrubs?

A

They have different shapes depending on the species

This characteristic can be particularly helpful in winter when leaves are absent.

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36
Q

What do growth rings indicate in woody plants?

A

Where one year’s growth has ended and the next year’s has begun

This is marked by the bud scale scar where terminal bud scales were attached.

37
Q

What is a bud scale scar?

A

The mark left where the terminal bud scales were attached to the shoot

It indicates the transition between one year’s growth and the next.

38
Q

True or False: Growth rings can be recognized in all types of plants.

A

False

This method only works with woody plants that form buds.

39
Q

What type of leaves do ferns have?

A

Ferns have fronds, which can be delicate-looking and very sub-divided, or plain and shiny.

40
Q

Describe the general characteristics of monocot leaves.

A

Monocot leaves are generally narrow with parallel veins, rarely having leaf stems (petioles).

41
Q

What is the typical structure of eudicot leaves?

A

Eudicot leaves usually have broad leaves with reticulate veins and leaf stalks (petioles).

42
Q

What is the term for the main structure of a leaf?

A

The blade of a leaf is called the lamina.

43
Q

What are simple leaves?

A

Simple leaves have only one single leaf blade.

44
Q

What defines compound leaves?

A

Compound leaves are composed of multiple leaflets arranged in various ways.

45
Q

What is the arrangement of leaflets in pinnate compound leaves?

A

Pinnate leaves have leaflets arranged along a central stalk.

46
Q

Describe the arrangement of leaflets in palmate compound leaves.

A

Palmate leaves have leaflets arising from a single point on the petiole.

47
Q

How can you distinguish between compound leaves and simple leaves?

A

Look for an axillary bud; if present, it is a leaf; if absent but present at the base of the leaf stalk (rachis), they are leaflets.

48
Q

What leaf arrangement has one leaf at each node?

A

Alternate arrangement

49
Q

In which leaf arrangement do leaves occur in opposite pairs at right angles?

A

Decussate arrangement

50
Q

What is the term for leaves that surround some flowers and attract pollinators?

A

Bracts

51
Q

What are scale leaves?

A

Small brown papery-textured leaves forming the outer layer of buds

52
Q

Fill in the blank: Some perennials, such as ________, replace all their leaves within a few weeks in late winter.

A

hellebores

53
Q

What type of leaf arrangement features three or more leaves per node?

A

Whorled arrangement

54
Q

What is the primary function of flowers?

A

Essential to sexual reproduction, site for pollination, give rise to seed and fruit

55
Q

How do monocotyledons differ from eudicotyledons in flower structure?

A
  • Monocotyledons: flower parts arranged in threes or multiples of three
  • Eudicotyledons: flower parts arranged in fours, fives, or multiples of these
56
Q

What is the botanical family name for grasses?

A

[Poaceae]

57
Q

What is the flower stalk called?

A

Pedicel

58
Q

What is the term for the stalk of a flower head?

A

Peduncle

59
Q

What is a bract?

A

A leaf-like structure sometimes found at the base of a flower or surrounding it.

60
Q

What does the receptacle do in a flower?

A

Supports and acts as a base for the rest of the flower.

61
Q

What is the function of sepals?

A

Protects the flower before it opens.

62
Q

What is the calyx?

A

All the sepals together.

63
Q

Where are nectaries located in flowers?

A

At the base of the petal.

64
Q

The outer visible part of the flower bud is formed by _______.

A

Sepals

65
Q

What is the primary function of the bract?

A

To surround or support the flower.

66
Q

What is the structure that forms the outer protective layer of a flower bud?

A

Calyx

67
Q

What is the collective name for all the petals of a flower?

A

Corolla

The calyx plus the corolla are known as the perianth.

68
Q

What is the male sexual organ of a flower called?

A

Stamen

The stamen includes the anther and the filament.

69
Q

What is produced in the anther?

A

Pollen

The anther is part of the stamen.

70
Q

What connects the anther to the receptacle?

A

Filament

The filament positions the anther for effective pollen dispersal.

71
Q

What is the female sex organ of a flower called?

A

Carpel

The carpel consists of the stigma, style, and ovary.

72
Q

What is the sticky, receptive surface at the end of the style called?

A

Stigma

Pollen lands on the stigma and grows down into the ovary.

73
Q

What part of the carpel contains the ovules?

A

Ovary

The ovary often develops into the fruit after fertilization.

74
Q

What are the female sex cells in a flower called?

A

Ovules

Ovules develop into seeds if fertilization occurs.

75
Q

What is an inflorescence?

A

A collection of flowers on the same stalk (the peduncle)

In ordinary speech, an inflorescence is often referred to as a ‘flower head’.

76
Q

Why do flowers grow in colonies?

A

To make the visits of pollinating insects as efficient as possible

Massing flowers together allows insects to spend less time traveling from flower to flower.

77
Q

What role do the brightly coloured bracts play in Euphorbia polychroma?

A

They attract pollinators, performing the job usually done by petals.

78
Q

What family do daisies belong to?

A

Asteraceae.

79
Q

What do ovules turn into once successfully fertilised?

A

Seeds

The ovary and often other parts of the floral structure turn into supporting structures.

80
Q

What is the visual significance of seed heads, berries, and other fruit in gardens?

A

They provide visual interest in autumn and winter gardens

Additionally, they are an important wildlife resource.

81
Q

What are carnivorous plants?

A

Plants that attract, ensnare, and digest insects to obtain nutrients

Examples include the Venus fly trap (Dionaea muscipula), which grows in nutrient-poor environments.

82
Q

What nutrients do carnivorous plants primarily obtain from insects?

A

Mostly nitrogen

Nitrogen is often in short supply in the bogs and marshes where these plants grow.

83
Q

Why is seed dispersal important for plants?

A

It allows new plants to colonize new areas and habitats, often many miles away

This can lead to the spread of a plant species and potentially contribute to invasiveness.

84
Q

What are some methods of seed dispersal?

A

Plants have evolved many methods, including wind, water, and animal dispersal

Each method is adapted to specific habitats.

85
Q

Give an example of a plant that uses wind dispersal.

A

Taraxacum officinale (dandelion)

The dandelion has modified fruit structures that form parachutes for effective dispersal.

86
Q

What type of structure do some seeds have to aid in wind dispersal?

A

Wings or parachutes

Examples include the wings of Acer campestre (field maple) and the parachutes of Clematis vitalba (Old man’s beard).

87
Q

What is the main feature of clematis flowers?

A

The prominent bracts.

88
Q

During which seasons do seed heads create a distinct atmosphere in the garden?

A

Autumn and early winter

RHS Level 2 Certificate: Principles Of Plant Growth And Development (2 decks)

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