Tree Biology Flashcards
Meristems
Areas of a tree where new cells are created from the division of existing cells.
Differentiation
Following division, cells undergo differentiation which changes their structure and permits them to assume a variety of specific functions; Bark, wood, organs. etc
Primary Growth
Growth from roots and shoots from the apical meristems (the tip of the meristem).
Secondary Growth
A result of lateral (secondary) meristems, increase in root or stem girth or diameter.
Apical Meristem
Meristems located at the ends of shoots and roots, in shoots found inside the buds.
Bud
1) A small lateral or terminal protuberance on the stem of a plant, may develop into a flower or shoot. 2) undeveloped flower or shoot containing a meristemic growing point.
Cambium
Lateral meristem, a thin sheath of dividing cells that produces the Xylem and Phloem.
Xylem
Main water-conducting tissue in the tree. Provides structural support. Arises from cambium and becomes wood after lignifying.. The xylem contains tracheids, fibers, parenchyma cells, and in hardwoods, also vessels.
Phloem
Vascular tissue that transports photosynthates and growth regulators. Situated on the inside of the bark, just outside the cambium is bidirectional (transports up and down)
Cork Cambium
The secondary lateral meristem that produces the bark.
Periderm
Bark
Cellulose
The structural component of the primary cell wall.
Lignin
Component of the plant cells. when formed in the cell walls of the wood, it provides strength and rigidity. that allows trees to grow tall.
4 functions of the xylem
- conduct water 2. support the weight of the tree 3. storage of carbohydrate reserves 4. defense against the spread of disease (CODIT wall 1)
Symplasm
The living tissue of the tree.
Apoplasm
The non-living tissue of the tree; Xylem of gymnosperms, (pines, and spruce trees), .
Tracheids
Elongated, dead cells with pointy ends and thickened walls. Conduct water in gymnosperms.
Fibers
Provide mechanical strength in gymnosperms.
Parenchyma cells
Living cells interspersed among other xylem cells located in the outer layer of the xylem store carbohydrates, help defend against decay and have structural function across the grain.
Vessels
Found in hardwood tree’s xylem, live tissue.
Ring Porous
Trees, elm, oak, and ash tree that form wide vessels early in the growing season and narrower vessels later in the season.
Diffuse Porous
Maple, Planetree, poplar produce vessels uniform in size throughout the growing season.
Growth Rings
Seasonal production of xylem and cambium cells. appear as rings because the size/ density of vascular tissues changes throughout the growing season.
Sapwood
Xylem that conducts water, contains many parenchyma cells.
Heartwood
Non-conducting tissue that contains no living cells. sometimes darker color (lignin)
Rays
The living channel of cells through which water, elements, and carbohydrates move laterally. Radial transport cells made up of parenchyma cells that grow radially across the grain in small layers that extend across the growth increments of xylem and phloem.
Lenticels
Small openings in the bark permit gas exchange.
Apical Buds, Terminal Buds
Buds located at the end of a root or shoot.
Lateral, Auxiliary Buds
Buds that occur on the stem.
Apical Dominance
A condition in which auxiliary buds are dormant because the terminal bud inhibits the growth and development of lateral buds on the same shoot.
Adventitious Buds
Produced along stems or roots where primary meristems are not normally found. development may be stimulated by the loss of normal buds and the growth regulators they produce.
Epicormic
Arising from a latent adventitious bud (growth point) Usually in reference to a shoot.