A vascular flowering plant in which seeds are enclosed inside of protective
Regions located at the tips of roots and shoots, wherein cells undergo rapid
mitotic division and allow for the vertical, primary growth
The pathway from the root surface to the core by which water moves along
cell walls and through intercellular spaces, bypassing the cells themselves.
The female sex organ of terrestrial plants; where egg cells are produced.
A lower terrestrial plant (often a moss or liverwort) that lacks a
vascular system and is dependent on environmental moisture for reproductive
and nutritive functions.
A cell, found in the phloem of vascular plants, that is closely
associated with one or more sieve elements.
Along with vascular cambium a type of lateral meristem, the cork cambium is located
just inside the cork (bark)covering of a woody stem. As the plant shoot or root grows in
width, the cork cambium produces more cork to serve as protective covering for the plant.
An leaf characteristic of angiosperm embryos; monocot embryos have one,
and dicot embryos have two.
The process, occurring in most angiosperms, by which the male gametes of
one plant (carried by pollen grains) fertilize the eggs of another.
A flowering plant (angiosperm) that possesses two cotyledons during
Having two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.
The mechanism of angiosperm fertilization that involves the joining of
haploid gametes to create a diploid zygote, and the simultaneous
joining of a second sperm cell with a fusion nucleus to create a
triploid nucleus (which becomes the endosperm).
A substance, formed from a triploid nucleus in angiosperm reproduction,
that nourishes a developing embryo within a seed.
Refers to the cells that lie on the outer surface of an organism.
A system of many small, branching roots (none of which predominates) that spread
out in the top few centimeters of soil; characteristic of monocots.
The diploid product formed by the joining of the two polar nuclei in the
A haploid sex cell (either an egg or sperm cell); male and female gametes
join during fertilization to create a diploid zygote.
A haploid plant or plant structure that produces haploid gametes through
Specialized liverwort cells that allow the plants to reproduce asexually; when
broken off from the parent plant, these cells can grow independently into new
A vascular non-flowering plant (commonly known as a conifer) in which seeds
are not protected by an ovary.
Having only one set of chromosomes.
In contrast to sapwood, a term for the dead, clogged xylem cells near the center of a
tree. Heartwood is the tree's main column of support.
The reproductive phenomenon, characteristic of gymnosperms and
angiosperms, whereby spores of two distinct sexes are produced; these
spores develop into sex-specific gametophytes.
A term for the two types of tissue, vascular cambium and cork cambium. These tissues
produce a vascular plant's secondary growth, which is a growth in width.
Female spore; gives rise to a female gametophyte.
Male spore; gives rise to a male gametophyte.
A flowering plant (angiosperm) that possesses one cotyledon during
In plants, the protective structure that holds the ovules and surrounds the
angiosperm seed; after fertilization, develops into a fruit.
Structure that contains the female gametophyte and gametes; after
fertilization, develops into a seed.
Vascular tissue composed of cells (sieve elements and companion
cells) that are living at maturity; transports the essential products of
photosynthesis throughout the plant body.
The process by which plants and other
autotrophic organisms convert
light energy into vital organic materials.
Two nuclei, contained within the same cell, that are created from the
mitotic division of the megaspore during
angiosperm reproduction. The Polar nuclei unite in the ovule to form a
fusion nucleus, which gives rise to endosperm when fertilized.
The male gametophyte of gymnosperms and angiosperms.
The outgrowth of a pollen grain that creates a path through the female sex
organ in order to penetrate to the egg cells.
The vertical growth of the plant that takes place in the apical meristems.
The part of a plant beneath the soil; responsible for collecting water and
minerals from the soil, storing nutrients, and securing the plant to the ground.
An outgrowth of a plant root that provides an increased surface area for the
absorption of water and dissolved minerals from the soil.
In contrast to heartwood, the part of a tree closer to the periphery that is comprised
of the functioning xylem cells. It is important to remember that "functioning" xylem cells
does not equate to "living" xylem cells. All xylem cells are dead at maturity.
A plant's growth in width, which takes place in the lateral meristems.
The process by which the male gametes of a plant fertilize the eggs of the
A living conductive cell of phloem.
The part of a plant where spores are produced.
Haploid cell from which a gametophyte is produced.
A diploid plant or plant structure that produces haploid spores
The pathway from the root surface to the root core, by which water enters the
root hair membrane and travels through the cytoplasm of adjacent cells via
channels that connect the contents of those cells.
A single dominant root (often with several smaller secondary roots branching
off of it) that extends deep into the soil; characteristic of dicots.
A conductile xylem cell characteristic of gymnosperms. They are longer
and thinner than vessel elements, lower on the evolutionary ladder, and not
quite as efficient in terms of transport.
A terrestrial plant with a vascular system.
Having three sets of chromosomes.
The lateral meristem located between the phloem and xylem in vasacular plants. On
its inside surface, vascular cambium produces new xylem cells, on its outside new phloem
A conductile xylem cell characteristic of angiosperms. They are shorter
and wider than a tracheid, higher on the evolutionary ladder, and more
efficient in terms of transport.
Mechanism of internal water and nutrient transport, made up of the vascular
tissues xylem and phloem, that is characteristic of tracheophytes.
A conductive component (either xylem or phloem) of the system that
transports food and nutrients throughout the plant body.
Vascular tissue composed of cells (tracheids or vessel elements)
that are dead at maturity; transports water and dissolved minerals upwards from
the roots to the shoot.
The diploid product of fertilization that develops into an embryo.