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Biology 2e

Key Terms

Biology 2eKey Terms

Key Terms

adventitious
describes an organ that grows in an unusual place, such as a roots growing from the side of a stem
antheridium
male gametangium
archegonium
female gametangium
capsule
case of the sporangium in mosses
charophyte
other term for green algae; considered the closest relative of land plants
club mosses
earliest group of seedless vascular plants
diplontic
diploid stage is the dominant stage
embryophyte
other name for land plant; embryo is protected and nourished by the sporophyte
extant
still-living species
extinct
no-longer-existing species
fern
seedless vascular plant that produces large fronds; the most advanced group of seedless vascular plants
gametangium
structure on the gametophyte in which gametes are produced
gemma
(plural, gemmae) leaf fragment that spreads for asexual reproduction
haplodiplodontic
haploid and diploid stages alternate
haplontic
haploid stage is the dominant stage
heterosporous
produces two types of spores
homosporous
produces one type of spore
hornworts
group of non-vascular plants in which stomata appear
horsetail
seedless vascular plant characterized by joints
lignin
complex polymer impermeable to water
liverworts
most primitive group of the non-vascular plants
lycophyte
club moss
megaphyll
larger leaves with a pattern of branching veins
megaspore
female spore
microphyll
small size and simple vascular system with a single unbranched vein
microspore
male spore
mosses
group of bryophytes in which a primitive conductive system appears
non-vascular plant
plant that lacks vascular tissue, which is formed of specialized cells for the transport of water and nutrients
peat moss
Sphagnum
peristome
tissue that surrounds the opening of the capsule and allows periodic release of spores
phloem
tissue responsible for transport of sugars, proteins, and other solutes
protonema
tangle of single-celled filaments that forms from the haploid spore
rhizoids
thin filaments that anchor the plant to the substrate
seedless vascular plant
plant that does not produce seeds
seta
stalk that supports the capsule in mosses
sporocyte
diploid cell that produces spores by meiosis
sporophyll
leaf modified structurally to bear sporangia
sporopollenin
tough polymer surrounding the spore
streptophytes
group that includes green algae and land plants
strobili
cone-like structures that contain the sporangia
tracheophyte
vascular plant
vascular plant
plant containing a network of cells that conducts water and solutes through the organism
vein
bundle of vascular tissue made of xylem and phloem
whisk fern
seedless vascular plant that lost roots and leaves by reduction
xylem
tissue responsible for long-distance transport of water and nutrients
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