Plant Anatomy Quiz

Plant Structures and Functions

• Plants and animals have different life cycles
• Plants are rooted in soil and use sunlight to make their food
• Plants interact with fungi and other organisms
• Plants can adapt to their environment by adjusting stem length or leaf positioning
• Plants react to external factors such as light, nutrients, temperature, and gravity and internal factors such as plant hormones.
• Plants defend themselves with thorns, spines, and leaf hairs.

Plant Defense Mechanisms

• Plants defend against herbivores using thorns, spines, and hairs
• Some medicinal products come from plants used for defense

Plant and Animal Interactions

• Some plants have mutualistic relationships with certain animals
• Acacia trees provide homes and food for ants, while the ants protect the trees from herbivores.

Plant Organs

• Plant organs include roots, shoots, leaves, and flowers
• Dicotyledon and Monocotyledon plants have differences in organ structure
• Root systems anchor the plant, absorb minerals and water, and provide support, example: fibrous, taproot, and buttress
• Shoot systems are the above-ground part of the plant
• Leaves are the primary sites for photosynthesis
• Flower structures vary greatly depending on the species; they have sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils, which are specialized for reproduction.

Plant Reproduction

• Plants utilize both sexual and asexual reproduction
• Many have flowers as essential reproductive units
• Structures include sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils
• The male reproductive structures of flowers are stamens.
• The female reproductive structures are pistils.

Seed Development and Dispersal

• Seed development begins after fertilization, with a hard outer coat for protection
• Seeds contain the embryo plant and stored food, such as endosperm or cotyledons
• Fruits surround and protect the developing seeds and aid in seed dispersal mechanisms.
• Dispersal methods include animal consumption, wind, water or ballistic dispersal.

Primary Growth

• Primary growth increases the length of plant roots and shoots
• Meristems are involved. Apical meristem produces new cells for elongation
• Intercalary meristems are located at the base of the plant
• Secondary growth increases the thickness of woody plants

Vascular Tissue

• Vascular tissue transports water, mineral nutrients, and organic molecules
• Xylem transports water and nutrients upwards
• Phloem moves photosynthetic products from leaves to other parts

Plant Tissues

• Dermal tissue - outer covering or skin of the plants
• Vascular tissue - transports water and nutrients
• Ground tissue - photosynthesis and storage
• Parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma are three basic cell types in plants.

Plant Propagation

• Methods like cuttings, grafting, and runners support asexual reproduction.
• Cloning can be useful for creating genetically identical plants.

Plant Structures and Functions - Further Exploration

• Some plants have highly modified leaves (spines, tendrils)
• Flowers are specialized shoots with sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils
• Both sexual and asexual reproduction

Other Important Points

• Plants exhibit varied growth patterns and adaptations to different environments
• Different types of plants/organs have specific functions and structures
• Plant organs, tissues, and cells work in coordinated ways for survival, reproduction, and growth