Week 5 Plant Form and Function Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What are the three basic types of plant tissue systems?

Dermal tissue system, ground tissue system, and vascular tissue system.

What is the function of stems in plants?

Plant organ that produces leaves and branches and bears the reproductive structures of mature plants.

What is the main role of leaves?

Plant organ consisting of flattened structures that enable photosynthesis.

What is a shoot in plant anatomy?

The stem and leaves of a plant. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of roots?

Anchorage in the soil and fosters efficient uptake of water and minerals. Signup and view all the answers

What are meristems?

Regions of undifferentiated cells that produce new tissues by cell division. Signup and view all the answers

Define organ systems in plants.

Structures composed of more than one organ involved in vegetative growth and reproductive development. Signup and view all the answers

What is vegetative growth?

The growth of non-reproductive parts of the plant. Signup and view all the answers

What are buds in plant biology?

Miniature shoots each having a dormant shoot apical meristem. Signup and view all the answers

What is indeterminate growth in plants?

Apical meristems continuously produce new stem tissues and leaves as long as conditions remain favorable. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes determinate growth?

Growth stops after a certain size is reached. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the primary tissues produced by primary meristems.

Tissues that make up the primary plant body, lengthening stems and roots. Signup and view all the answers

What is secondary growth in plants?

Growth that increases the girth of woody plants by producing specialized secondary tissues. Signup and view all the answers

What is the epidermis in plant tissues?

Layer of outermost tissue that develops at the stem surface. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the cuticle in plants?

Waxy surface coating that reduces water loss and protects against damage. Signup and view all the answers

What is the cortex in plant anatomy?

Tissue between the epidermis and vascular cylinder in roots and stems. Signup and view all the answers

What is parenchyma tissue?

Tissue composed of parenchyma cells that make up cortex. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the role of collenchyma tissue.

Tissue of stems composed of flexible cells that provide support. Signup and view all the answers

What is sclerenchyma tissue?

A rigid stem tissue composed of tough-walled cells for strength and protection. Signup and view all the answers

What are primary vascular tissues?

New water and food conducting tissues developed inside young shoots and roots. Signup and view all the answers

What does xylem do?

Transports water upward from the roots to every part of the plant. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of phloem?

Conducts sugars and other metabolic products downward from the leaves. Signup and view all the answers

What are vascular bundles?

Primary plant vascular tissues that occur in elongate clusters. Signup and view all the answers

What are stomata?

Small openings on the underside of a leaf that regulate gas exchange. Signup and view all the answers

Describe leaf mesophyll.

Internal photosynthetic tissues of the leaf adapted for sunlight absorption. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of leaf veins?

Composed of vascular tissue, they conduct water and sugars throughout leaf tissues. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of stem cells in plants?

Undifferentiated cells that divide to produce new specialized cells. Signup and view all the answers

What is a node?

The stem region from which one or more leaves emerge. Signup and view all the answers

What are internodes?

Regions of stem between adjacent nodes. Signup and view all the answers

What are axillary buds?

Buds that can produce leafy branches or flowers. Signup and view all the answers

What is the blade of a leaf?

Thin, flattened section that collects sunlight. Signup and view all the answers

What is the petiole?

The stalk of a leaf that joins the blade to the stem. Signup and view all the answers

What are trichomes?

Tiny projections on some leaves for protection. Signup and view all the answers

What are guard cells?

Cells that regulate the opening and closing of stomata. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the major types of plant tissue systems with respect to their structure and function.

Dermal tissue protects and controls gas exchange; ground tissue performs various functions; vascular tissue transports water, nutrients, and sugars. Signup and view all the answers

Compare the structure and function of phloem versus xylem.

Xylem transports water and supports the stem; phloem transports sugars and is composed of living cells. Signup and view all the answers

What are fibers in phloem?

Tough-walled sclerenchyma cells valued for their strength. Signup and view all the answers

What are sclereids?

Reduced form of sclerenchyma cells with thickened walls, forming durable tissue layers. Signup and view all the answers

What are tracheids?

Water-conducting and supportive elements of xylem composed of long, thin cells. Signup and view all the answers

What are vessel elements?

Short, wide water-conducting cells found in the xylem of most angiosperms. Signup and view all the answers

What is a sieve-tube element?

Phloem cell joined with others to form a continuous sieve tube. Signup and view all the answers

What are companion cells?

Active cells adjacent to sieve-tube elements that provide metabolic support. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Plant Tissue Systems

Dermal Tissue System: Protects plants, controls gas exchange in roots, and water absorption; covered by a waxy cuticle reducing water loss.
Ground Tissue System: Comprises parenchyma (photosynthesis/storage), collenchyma (support during growth), and sclerenchyma (support after growth ceases).
Vascular Tissue System: Transports water, minerals, and sugars; consists of xylem (upward transport) and phloem (downward transport).

Plant Organs and Structures

Stems: Crucial for producing leaves and branches; bear reproductive structures.
Leaves: Flattened organs that facilitate photosynthesis.
Roots: Anchor plants, enhance water and mineral uptake; collectively, they form the root system.
Shoot: Comprises both stems and leaves.

Growth and Development

Meristems: Regions of undifferentiated cells responsible for new tissue production. Active at shoot and root tips.
Organ Systems: Composed of multiple organs involved in vegetative and reproductive growth.
Indeterminate Growth: Continuous growth as long as conditions are favorable, primarily in plants.
Determinate Growth: Growth that halts upon reaching a specific size, typical in animals and some plant organs.

Tissue Characteristics

Primary Meristems: Left behind by the shoot apical meristem (SAM) to increase length and generate new organs.
Primary Growth: Occurs from primary meristems, elongating stems and roots.
Secondary Growth: Involves lateral meristems enhancing girth in woody plants.

Ground Tissue Cell Types

Parenchyma Cells: Thin-walled, versatile cells responsible for photosynthesis and storage; also assist in healing.
Collenchyma Cells: Supportive, elongated cells found in growing areas, flexible due to thickened primary walls.
Sclerenchyma Cells: Thick-walled, rigid cells providing structural support; dead at functional maturity.

Vascular Tissue Details

Xylem: Transports water from roots, consists of tracheids and vessel elements; provides structural support.
Phloem: Conducts sugars downward, composed of living cells with sieve-tube elements and companion cells.

Specialized Structures

Stomata: Small openings for gas exchange; regulate water loss.
Leaf Mesophyll: Contains palisade and spongy parenchyma for photosynthesis; palisade cells absorb sunlight while spongy cells facilitate gas exchange.
Vascular Bundles: Clusters of xylem and phloem occurring together.

Leaf Anatomy

Blade: Photosynthetic portion of the leaf.
Petiole: Connects the leaf blade to the stem; contains an axillary bud.
Guard Cells: Regulate the opening and closing of stomata.

Additional Structures

Trichomes: Protect plants with spiky projections.
Fibers: Tough sclerenchyma cells valued for strength.
Sclereids: Modified sclerenchyma forming durable layers in plants.

Cell Types and Transport Comparison

Tracheids vs. Vessel Elements:
- Vessels: Have perforations, wide, found in angiosperms.
- Tracheids: Individual cells, tapered ends, present in all vascular plants.
Sieve-Tube Elements: Responsible for transporting sugars, forming continuous tubes.
Companion Cells: Provide metabolic support to sieve-tube elements.

Vascular Tissue Functions

Xylem: Transports water and nutrients; provides support.
Phloem: Transports organic compounds from photosynthetic sites.

This summary captures essential concepts and terminologies related to plant form and function, providing a structured overview of the contents and key points from the study material.

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Description

Explore the essential concepts of plant structure and function with these flashcards. This set focuses on the three main types of plant tissues: dermal, ground, and vascular, as well as the functions of stems and leaves. Perfect for understanding key botanical terminology and concepts.