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anther
a sac-like structure at the tip of the stamen in which pollen grains are produced
Anthophyta
the division to which angiosperms belong
apical meristem
the growing point in a vascular plant at the tip of a shoot or root where cell division occurs
basal angiosperms
a group of plants that probably branched off before the separation of monocots and eudicots
calyx
the whorl of sepals
carpel
the female reproductive part of a flower consisting of the stigma, style, and ovary
club moss
the earliest group of seedless vascular plants
cone
the ovulate strobilus on gymnosperms that contains ovules
conifer
the dominant division of gymnosperms with the most variety of species
corolla
the collection of petals
cotyledon
the one (monocot) or two (dicot) primitive leaves present in a seed
cycad
a division of gymnosperms that grow in tropical climates and resemble palm trees
dicot
a group of angiosperms whose embryos possess two cotyledons; also known as eudicot
diplontic
describes a life cycle in which the diploid stage is the dominant stage
eudicots
a group of angiosperms whose embryos possess two cotyledons; also known as dicot
fern
a seedless vascular plant that produces large fronds; the most advanced group of seedless vascular plants
filament
the thin stalk that links the anther to the base of the flower
gametangium
(plural: gametangia) the structure within which gametes are produced
gametophyte
the haploid plant that produces gametes
gingkophyte
a division of gymnosperm with one living species, the Gingko biloba, a tree with fan-shaped leaves
gnetophyte
a division of gymnosperms with varied morphological features that produce vessel elements in their woody tissues
gymnosperm
a seed plant with naked seeds (seeds exposed on modified leaves or in cones)
gynoecium
the group of structures that constitute the female reproductive organ; also called the pistil
haplodiplontic
describes a life cycle in which the haploid and diploid stages alternate; also known as an alternation of generations life cycle
haplontic
describes a life cycle in which the haploid stage is the dominant stage
herbaceous
describes a plant without woody tissue
heterosporous
having two kinds of spores that give rise to male and female gametophytes
homosporous
having one kind of spore that gives rise to gametophytes that give rise to both male and female gametes
hornwort
a group of non-vascular plants in which stomata appear
horsetail
a seedless vascular plant characterized by a jointed stem
liverwort
the most primitive group of non-vascular plants
megasporocyte
a 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
a related group of angiosperms that produce embryos with one cotyledon and pollen with a single ridge
moss
a group of plants in which a primitive conductive system appears
nonvascular plant
a plant that lacks vascular tissue formed of specialized cells for the transport of water and nutrients
ovary
the chamber that contains and protects the ovule or female megasporangium
petal
a modified leaf interior to the sepal; colorful petals attract animal pollinator
phloem
the vascular tissue responsible for transport of sugars, proteins, and other solutes
pistil
the group of structures that constitute the female reproductive organ; also called the carpel
sepal
a modified leaf that encloses the bud; outermost structure of a flower
sporangium
(plural: sporangia) the organ within which spores are produced
sporophyll
a leaf modified structurally to bear sporangia
sporophyte
the diploid plant that produces spores
stamen
the group of structures that contain the male reproductive organs
stigma
uppermost structure of the carpel where pollen is deposited
strobili
cone-like structures that contain the sporangia
style
the long thin structure that links the stigma to the ovary
syngamy
the union of two gametes in fertilization
vascular plant
a plant in which there is a network of cells that conduct water and solutes through the organism
whisk fern
a seedless vascular plant that lost roots and leaves by evolutionary reduction
xylem
the vascular tissue responsible for long-distance transport of water and nutrients
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