Terminology of Flowering Plants

Question 1

Throughout botanical history, various methods have come along that were thought to hold the key to revolutionizing systematics.

Answer 1

These methods included morphology, anatomy, chromosome studies, palynology, biochemistry, and molecular studies.

Question 2

Morphology

Answer 2

Morphology deals primarily with the external structure of plant organs, and it forms the basis if most taxonomic descriptions.

As each of the newer “bandwagon”methods fails to be the final answer, it simply becomes another tool of the working systematist and is used to support morphology.

Question 3

The standard references for morphological vocabulary

Answer 3

Taxonomy of Vascular Plants, by George H.M.Lawrence (1951)

and

Vascular Plant Systematics (1974), by AlbertE. Radfordand his associates…

Question 4

Reproductive features

Answer 4

Reproductive features provide the most important characters in the classification of flowering plants. These features, associated with the flower and fruit, are easy to observe and describe.

In addition, they are considered to be evolutionarily conservative (constant). Sincevegetative features are often significantly influenced by the environment, they are not as constant.

One example of this can be seen in the species Salix bebbiana. As one proceeds south from the arctic to the temperate zone,this species goes from a mat-forming shrub to an erect shrub to a tree up to 10 m high.

However, the reproductive structures are constant whether the individual plant is ashrub or tree.

Question 5

The majority of families can be readily identified by their gross morphological features.

The types of characters you will use in this course will be morphological,with the majority reproductive.

Answer 5

Each of you will be able to recognize such families as the Asteraceae and Poaceae simply by looking at the reproductive structures.

Question 6

General plant structure

Answer 6

Question 7

Tap roots

Answer 7

Question 8

Fibrous root system

Answer 8

Question 9

Prop roots

Answer 9

Question 10

Haustorial roots

Answer 10

Question 11

Storage roots

Answer 11

Question 12

Buttress roots

Answer 12

Question 13

Pneumatophores

Answer 13

Question 14

Areole

Answer 14

Question 15

Bulb

Answer 15

Question 16

Cladodes

Answer 16

Question 17

Corm

Answer 17

Question 18

Culm

Answer 18

Question 19

Rhizome

Answer 19

Question 20

Stolon

Answer 20

Question 21

Thorn

Answer 21

Question 22

Tuber

Answer 22

Question 23

Scape

Answer 23

Question 24

Acaulescent & Caulescent

Answer 24

Question 25

Arborescent

Answer 25

Question 26

Suffrutescent

Answer 26

Question 27

Prostrate

Answer 27

Question 28

Repent

Answer 28

Question 29

Decumbent

Answer 29

Question 30

Cespitose

Answer 30

Question 31

Twig Parts

Answer 31

Question 32

Bud Types / Parts

Answer 32

Question 33

Leaf stuctural types

Answer 33

Question 34

Phyllode

Answer 34

Question 35

Tendril

Answer 35

Question 36

Spines

Answer 36

Question 37

Leaf modifications of carnivorous plants

• Pitcher leaves

Answer 37

Question 38

Leaf modifications of carnivorous plants

• Tentacular leaves

(Note gladular trichomes)

Answer 38

Question 39

Leaf modifications of carnivorous plants

• Trap leaf

Answer 39

Question 40

Showy flower bracts

Answer 40

Question 41

Bud scale

Answer 41

Question 42

Leaf types / Parts -

Simple

Answer 42

Question 43

Leaf types / Parts -

Pinnately compound

Answer 43

Question 44

Leaf types / Parts -

Bipinnately compound

Answer 44

Question 45

Leaf types / Parts -

Ternately Compound

(Trifoliolate)

Answer 45

Question 46

Leaf types / Parts -

Biternately compound

(Biternate)

Answer 46

Question 47

Leaf types / Parts -

Palmately compound

Answer 47

Question 48

Leaf types / Parts -

Unifoliolate

Answer 48

Question 49

Leaf attachment -

Petiolate

Answer 49

Question 50

Leaf attachment -

Sessile

Question 51

Leaf attachment -

Sheathing

Question 52

Leaf attachment -

Decurrent

Question 53

Leaf attachment -

Amplexicaul

Question 54

Leaf attachment -

Perfoliate

Question 55

Leaf attachment -

Sessile

Answer 55

Question 56

Leaf attachment -

Sheathing

Answer 56

Question 57

Leaf attachment -

Connate - perfoliate

Answer 57

Question 58

Leaf venation -

Uninervous

Answer 58

Question 59

Leaf venation -

Ultimate veinlets reticulate

(netted)

Answer 59

Question 60

Leaf venation -

Dichotomous

Answer 60

Question 61

Leaf venation -

Ultimate veinlets transverse

Answer 61

Question 62

Flower Parts

Answer 62

Question 63

Flower Attachment

Answer 63

Question 64

Flower Sex

Answer 64

Question 65

Flower symmetry types

Answer 65

Question 66

Actinomorphic

(Radial symmetry)

Answer 66

* five planes of symmetry

Question 67

Actinomorphic

(Radial symmetry)

Answer 67

* six planes of symmetry

Question 68

Slight Zygomorphy

(Bilateral symmetry)

Answer 68

* vertical plane of symmetry

Question 69

Strong Zygomorphy

Answer 69

Question 70

Strong Zygomorphy

Answer 70

Question 71

Asymmetry

Answer 71

Question 72

Perianth fusion -

Aposepalous apopetalous

Answer 72

Question 73

Perianth fusion -

Aposepalous sympetalous

Answer 73

Question 74

Perianth fusion -

Synsepalous apopetalous

Answer 74

Question 75

Perianth fusion -

Synsepalous sympetalous

Answer 75