Vegetative Morphology Flashcards
4 Main Plant Organs
Flower - reproduction
Stem - elevates shoot, connection for transport
Leaf - Photosynthesis
Root -Absorption (water & minerals)
Shoot V. Root
Shoot: Photosynthesis, vascular - water up, food down
Root: Absorbing minerals
Causes of Growth
Cell division (mitosis)
Cell expansion
Meristem
divides into two cells (another meristematic cell that also divides)
- Mitotic Cell division
Meristem “types”
- Shoot Apical Meristem (SAM)
Bud Primortia: inactive buds
SAM pushed upward by growth
Removing apical bud = suppresses apical dominance - Root Apical Meristem (RAM)
Root systems
Tap Root system: Main root with lateral roots
Can be very deep
Dicot
Fibrous Root system:
monocot
Adventitious Roots
Unusual anatomical placement
Buds
Can become flowers or stems
* Terminal/Apical bud: Actively dividing
produce hormones that move downward (inhibiting growth)
* Axillary/Lateral Bud: can be dormant –>Auxin
* Bud dormancy: creates auxin
Shoot tip inhibits outgrowth of axillary buds below, pinch off = outgrowth
Leaf venation
Parallel (Monocot) and Netted/ Reticulate (Dicot)
Purpose: Distribution of nutrients
Specialized Structures
Food Storage: Food-storage roots, bulbs, tubers, rhizomes, corms
Asexual Reproduction: Stolons, Rhizomes
Support: Tendrils
Protection: Spines, thorns Prickles
Food storage structures
Mostly roots and stems
enlarged and expanded
Starch, ground tissue
Tubers
Stolon - Modified, Underground stem (i.e potato)
Modified roots - sweet potato, radish, beet, carrot
nodes on potato = (SAM)merstematic tissue = bud
Bulbs
enlarged buds
(storage leaves and stem)
onion, shallots, garlic
Stolons (runners) and Rhizomes
Stolon: Above ground horizontal stem connection
Rhizome: Below Ground “
Protection
spines: derived from leaves
Thornes: derived from shoots
prickles: derived from epidermis
