Plants test 1

Question 1

What traits are useful for species identification?

Answer 1

Reproductive structures, leaf traits, stem/root modifications, molecular data.

Question 2

What kind of traits are best for evolutionary hypotheses?

Answer 2

Synapomorphies (shared derived traits).

Question 3

List SA biomes

Answer 3

Savanna, Grassland, Fynbos, Nama Karoo, Succulent Karoo, Desert, Forest, Thicket, Indiand coastal belt

Question 4

Savanna

Answer 4

Hot, seasonal rain, grasses and scattered trees (Acacia)

Question 5

Grassland

Answer 5

Cold winters, summer rain, dominated by grasses

Question 6

Fynbos

Answer 6

Mediterranean climate, fire adapted, Proteaceae, Ericaceae

Question 7

Nama Karoo

Answer 7

Semi-arid, dwarf shrubs, succulents

Question 8

Succulent Karoo

Answer 8

Winter rain, succulent plants, Aizoaceae

Question 9

Desert

Answer 9

Extreme aridity, sparse vegetation, succulents

Question 10

Forest

Answer 10

High rainfall, evergreen trees

Question 11

Thicket

Answer 11

Dense, woody shrubs, found in transitional zones

Question 12

Indian Ocean Coastal belt

Answer 12

Tropical, palm trees, mangroves

Question 13

Convergence definition

Answer 13

Similar traits evolved independantly

Question 14

Parallelism definition

Answer 14

Similar traits evolved in closely related species due to similair pressures

Question 15

Reversion

Answer 15

A derived trait reverting to an ancestral state

Question 16

What are stipules

Answer 16

Leaf-like structures at the base of a leaf

Question 17

What is a petiole

Answer 17

The stalk attaching the leaf to the stem

Question 18

What is a perianth

Answer 18

The group name for the sepals + petals of a flower

Question 19

What are the basal eudicots

Answer 19

Proteales, Buxales, Ranunculales, Trochodendrales

Question 20

Seed dispersal

Answer 20

Endozoochory, Epizoochory, Synzoochory, Anemochory, Hydrochory, Ballochory, Hygrochory

Question 21

Basal angiosperms (ANA-grade)

Answer 21

Amborellales, Nymphaeales, Austrobaileyales

Question 22

Core angiosperms

Answer 22

Chloranthales, Magnoliidae, Monocots, Ceratophyllales, Eudicots

Question 23

Monocot vs dicot

Answer 23

Refers to number of embryonic leaves or cotyledons

Question 24

What feature seperates Eudicots from other angiosperms

Answer 24

Tricolpate pollen

Question 25

Define monophyly

Answer 25

A group containing a common ancestor and all its descendants. Example: Angiosperms.

Question 26

Define paraphyly

Answer 26

A group containing a common ancestor but not all descendants. Example: "Dicots" (excluding Monocots).

Question 27

Define polyphyly

Answer 27

A group that does not include the most recent common ancestor. Example: Grouping aquatic plants without considering evolutionary history.

Question 28

List three key differences between Monocots and Eudicots

Answer 28

Monocots: One cotyledon, parallel venation, scattered vascular bundles. Eudicots: Two cotyledons, netted venation, vascular bundles in a ring.

Question 29

What is a synapomorphy?

Answer 29

A shared derived trait defining a clade (e.g., tricolpate pollen in Eudicots)

Question 30

What is the role of tricolpate pollen in Eudicots?

Answer 30

Improved germination efficiency and wider pollination compatibility