Plants Flashcards
Carnivorous Plants
A plant that digests insects and other small prey
By feeding on insects, carnivorous plants receive nutrients they can’t get from soil.
Cell
The smallest unit of life
All living things are made of cells. Most cells are too small to see with the naked eye.
Chlorophyll
The green substance in plant cells that absorbs sunlight
Chlorophyll is located in chloroplasts and it traps the energy needed for photosynthesis.
Cuticle
The waxy layer on the top of a leaf that reduces water loss
The cuticle also prevents the invasion of intruders, such as bacteria, into the leaf.
Epidermis Cell
Any cell located in the outer layer of a plant
There are three main types of epidermis cells – pavement cells, guard cells and root hair cells.
Guard Cell
A cell that controls the entry of gases in and out of stomata
If a plant is low on water, pairs of guard cells close the stomata to prevent water vapour escaping.
palisade mesophyll
A layer of cells specialized in trapping sunlight for photosynthesis
Palisade cells contain many chloroplasts which is where photosynthesis occurs.
Pavement Cell
A cell that helps form a plant’s protective outer layer
Pavement cells have irregular shapes that lock together to form a strong outer layer.
Phloem
A tube that transports sugars through a plant
The phloem forms part of the vascular bundle, together with the xylem.
Photosynthesis
The process used by plants to produce their own food
Photosynthesis occurs in chloroplasts, which are most commonly found in palisade cells.
Plant Cell
A cell that typically has a cell wall and a large vacuole
Unlike animal cells, plant cells have cell walls, large vacuoles and often chloroplasts.
Root Hair Cell
A cell that increases the surface area for absorption of water
These cells have ‘hairs’ that extend out to absorb water from a greater volume of soil.
spongy mesophyll
A layer of cells in leaves with a lot of space between them
The space between cells in the spongy mesophyll allows gases to move easily through the leaf.
Stoma
A pore in a leaf that allows gases to enter and leave
Stomata allow carbon dioxide into the leaf and release waste products – oxygen and water vapour.
Vascular Bundle
A network of tubes that transport sugar and water through a plant
The vascular bundle is made up of the xylem and phloem.
Xylem
A tube that transports water through a plant from the roots
The xylem forms part of the vascular bundle, together with the phloem.
