W4 - Botany - Stems and Buds Flashcards
What are monocarpic plants?
Plants that flower only once and then die
Examples include Agave species, Caryota obtusa, and certain bamboo species.
What is an example of a monocarpic plant that has stems that die after flowering but can produce new shoots?
Bananas
Each stem dies after flowering, but new shoots emerge from the base.
Define primary growth in plants.
Extension growth produced from buds
Height increase occurs at stem tips.
What is secondary growth in plants?
Thickening of stems over time.
What are nodes in stem morphology?
Points on the stem where leaves, buds, branches, or flowers emerge.
What do short internodes indicate?
Slow growth.
How does light affect internode length?
Bright light results in shorter internodes.
What are lenticels?
Pores on woody stems that allow oxygen to enter for cellular respiration.
What is the function of the terminal/apical bud?
Produces auxin hormone that suppresses axillary bud growth.
What happens to axillary buds when the terminal bud is removed?
They are released from dormancy and can grow into shoots.
What are vegetative buds responsible for?
Producing leaves and stems.
What distinguishes flower buds from vegetative buds?
Flower buds produce inflorescences and are usually larger.
What are rhizomes?
Underground stems distinguished from roots by the presence of nodes.
What are terminal bud scars used for?
To determine the age of a stem.
What forms leaf scars?
The abscission layer at the point where a leaf was attached.
When should you prune plants that flower on current season’s growth?
In winter or early spring.
What should be done to plants that flower on one-year-old wood?
Prune immediately after flowering.
What are soft tip cuttings (STC)?
Cuttings taken in spring when growth is soft and wilts easily.
What is the preparation for semi-hardwood cuttings (SHWC)?
Remove lower leaves and flower buds.
What is the most common cutting method for deciduous plants?
Hardwood cuttings (HWC).
What does tip pruning do to axillary buds?
It releases them from dormancy, creating bushier plants.
True or False: Some plants, like palms, have axillary buds.
False
Palms rely entirely on terminal buds for growth.
