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Biology

Key Terms

BiologyKey Terms

anther
sac-like structure at the tip of the stamen in which pollen grains are produced
Anthophyta
phylum to which angiosperms belong
barcoding
molecular biology technique in which one or more short gene sequences taken from a well-characterized portion of the genome is used to identify a species
basal angiosperms
a group of plants that probably branched off before the separation of monocots and eudicots
calyx
whorl of sepals
carpel
single unit of the pistil
conifer
dominant phylum of gymnosperms with the most variety of trees
corolla
collection of petals
cotyledon
primitive leaf that develop in the zygote; monocots have one cotyledon, and dicots have two cotyledons
crop
cultivated plant
cycad
gymnosperm that grows in tropical climates and resembles a palm tree; member of the phylum Cycadophyta
dicot
(also, eudicot) related group of angiosperms whose embryos possess two cotyledons
dioecious
describes a species in which the male and female reproductive organs are carried on separate specimens
filament
thin stalk that links the anther to the base of the flower
flower
branches specialized for reproduction found in some seed-bearing plants, containing either specialized male or female organs or both male and female organs
fruit
thickened tissue derived from ovary wall that protects the embryo after fertilization and facilitates seed dispersal
gingkophyte
gymnosperm with one extant species, the Gingko biloba: a tree with fan-shaped leaves
gnetophyte
gymnosperm shrub with varied morphological features that produces vessel elements in its woody tissues; the phylum includes the genera Ephedra, Gnetum and Welwitschia
gymnosperm
seed plant with naked seeds (seeds exposed on modified leaves or in cones)
gynoecium
(also, carpel) structure that constitute the female reproductive organ
heirloom seed
seed from a plant that was grown historically, but has not been used in modern agriculture on a large scale
herbaceous
grass-like plant noticeable by the absence of woody tissue
herbivory
consumption of plants by insects and other animals
integument
layer of sporophyte tissue that surrounds the megasporangium, and later, the embryo
megasporocyte
megaspore mother cell; larger spore that germinates into a female gametophyte in a heterosporous plant
microsporocyte
smaller spore that produces a male gametophyte in a heterosporous plant
monocot
related group of angiosperms that produce embryos with one cotyledon and pollen with a single ridge
monoecious
describes a species in which the male and female reproductive organs are on the same plant
nectar
liquid rich in sugars produced by flowers to attract animal pollinators
ovary
chamber that contains and protects the ovule or female megasporangium
ovulate cone
cone containing two ovules per scale
ovule
female gametophyte
perianth
part of the plant consisting of the calyx (sepals) and corolla (petals)
petal
modified leaf interior to the sepals; colorful petals attract animal pollinators
pistil
fused group of carpels
pollen grain
structure containing the male gametophyte of the plant
pollen tube
extension from the pollen grain that delivers sperm to the egg cell
pollination
transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma
progymnosperm
transitional group of plants that resembled conifers because they produced wood, yet still reproduced like ferns
seed
structure containing the embryo, storage tissue and protective coat
sepal
modified leaf that encloses the bud; outermost structure of a flower
spermatophyte
seed plant; from the Greek sperm (seed) and phyte (plant)
stamen
structure that contains the male reproductive organs
stigma
uppermost structure of the carpel where pollen is deposited
strobilus
plant structure with a tight arrangement of sporophylls around a central stalk, as seen in cones or flowers; the male strobilus produces pollen, and the female strobilus produces eggs
style
long, thin structure that links the stigma to the ovary
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