CAM Photosynthesis, or Crassulacean Acid Metabolism, is a process where stomata open at night to take in carbon dioxide, which is fixed into a four-carbon compound, allowing plants to conserve water in extreme arid conditions.
Binomial nomenclature is the two-part scientific naming system used in plant taxonomy, consisting of the genus and species.
Positive hydrotropism is the growth of roots towards areas of higher water concentration, aiding in water absorption and plant survival in dry conditions.
Meristematic tissue is the tissue responsible for producing new cells that differentiate into specialized cell types.
Vascular Plants have specialized tissues (xylem and phloem) for transporting water, minerals, and nutrients throughout the plant, and include trees, shrubs, grasses, ferns, and flowering plants.
Abscission is the process by which plants shed their leaves in response to seasonal changes.
Sepals are green, leaf-like structures at the base of the flower that protect the developing flower bud and are collectively known as the calyx.
Plant respiration is a cellular process occurring in the mitochondria of plant cells, where glucose and oxygen are broken down to produce carbon dioxide, water, and ATP.
A short-day plant is a plant that flowers when nights are longer than a critical duration.
Vascular tissue transports nutrients, ground tissue performs photosynthesis, and dermal tissue provides structural support.
The Calvin cycle, or light-independent reactions, occurs in the stroma of chloroplasts, utilizing ATP and NADPH to incorporate carbon dioxide into glucose.
Carolus Linnaeus is known as the Father of Taxonomy.
Rubisco is the enzyme responsible for the initial fixation of carbon dioxide in the Calvin cycle, operating efficiently under moderate temperature and light conditions.
Dormancy is the process by which plant seeds remain inactive in response to unfavorable conditions.
Long-day plants, or short-night plants, flower when nights are shorter than a critical duration.
The light-dependent reactions occur in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts, where light energy is absorbed to excite electrons, producing ATP and NADPH, and releasing oxygen as a byproduct.
Parasitic Plants obtain nutrients from other living plants, often at the expense of their host; examples include mistletoe and dodder.
Xerophytes are plants adapted to arid or desert environments with water-conserving features, such as succulents and cacti.
Respiration produces carbon dioxide needed for photosynthesis and releases energy from glucose produced during photosynthesis.
Short-day plants, also known as long-night plants, flower when nights are longer than a critical duration.
Parenchyma tissue consists of thin-walled, living cells with large intercellular spaces, involved in photosynthesis, nutrient storage, and healing of wounds.
Plant hormones, also known as phytohormones, are chemical messengers that regulate various physiological processes in plants, including five major types: auxins, gibberellins, cytokinin, abscisic acid, and ethylene.
An Ovule is the structure within the ovary that contains the egg cell, which becomes the seed after fertilization.
Gravitropism, or geotropism, is the response to gravity, with positive gravitropism involving roots growing towards gravity and negative gravitropism involving shoots growing against gravity, both controlled by auxin.
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen, primarily occurring in chloroplasts.
Algae are simple, autotrophic organisms that can be unicellular or multicellular, found in aquatic environments, and perform photosynthesis but lack true plant structures.
Lateral meristem, also known as cambium, is located in the cambium region of woody plants and is responsible for secondary growth, increasing the girth of the plant.
Pollination is the process by which pollen grains are transferred from the anther to the stigma of a flower.
Collenchyma tissue has cells with unevenly thickened cell walls, providing flexible support to growing plant parts.
The hierarchical classification system in Plant Taxonomy includes several levels: Domain, Kingdom, Division (Phylum for some groups), Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species, subspecies, varieties, and cultivars.
The most fundamental unit of plant taxonomy is the species, which is a group of organisms that can interbreed.
The transpiration pull is the negative pressure gradient created in the xylem by the loss of water during transpiration, which facilitates the upward movement of water from the roots to the leaves.
Chemotropism is a response to chemical stimuli, often observed in the growth of pollen tubes towards ovules during fertilization.
Epidermal tissue forms the outermost layer of plant organs and consists of closely packed cells that provide protection and reduce water loss.
The Stamen is the male reproductive part of the flower, consisting of two main parts: the Anther, which contains pollen grains, and the Filament, which supports the anther.
The Pistil is the female reproductive part of the flower, consisting of three main parts: Stigma, Style, and Ovary.
Cytokinins stimulate cell division and promote tissue growth, delay senescence in leaves, and work with auxins to control apical dominance.
Meristematic tissue is essential for plant growth because it produces new cells that differentiate into specialized tissues.
Auxin is a plant hormone responsible for promoting cell elongation and phototropism in plants.
Meristematic tissue is composed of actively dividing cells called meristems, found in growing regions like the tips of roots and shoots, responsible for primary and secondary growth.
Intercalary meristem occurs at the base of leaf blades and internodes in some monocots and facilitates the regrowth of damaged tissues and elongation of stems and leaves.
Gymnosperms are cone-bearing trees that produce seeds not enclosed within fruits, common examples include conifers like pine, spruce, fir, and cedars.
Bryophytes are the plant type that lacks true roots, stems, and leaves and is often found in moist environments.
A Complete Flower is one that contains all four main parts: sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils.
Hydrotropism is the response to water availability, helping plants grow towards moisture.
Xylem is the vascular tissue in plants that transports absorbed water and minerals from the roots to the leaves.
Senescence is the condition or process of deterioration with age in plants, often associated with the falling of leaves.
Photosynthesis is a vital biological process that converts light energy from the sun into chemical energy stored in glucose and other organic compounds, taking place in chloroplasts.
C3 photosynthesis is the standard photosynthetic pathway occurring in most plants, where carbon dioxide is directly incorporated into a three-carbon compound during the Calvin cycle.
Epiphytes are plants that grow on the surface of other plants but do not take nutrients from them, commonly including certain orchids, ferns, and mosses.
Phototropism is the response to light stimuli, where positive phototropism is growth towards a light source, controlled by the plant hormone auxin.
The transpirational cooling effect refers to the cooling of a plant as water evaporates from the moist cell walls of the spongy mesophyll, similar to how sweat cools the human body.
Photoperiodism is the type of tropism that involves the growth of plants in response to the duration of light and darkness in a 24-hour period.
Apical meristem is found at the tips of roots and stems, responsible for primary growth and increasing the length of the plant.
Pteridophytes are a group of plants that typically reproduce via spores, have vascular tissues, but do not produce seeds.
Carnivorous Plants capture and digest insects and other small organisms to supplement their nutrient intake; well-known examples include Venus flytrap and pitcher plants.
Abscisic acid inhibits growth and promotes dormancy in seeds and buds, and controls stomatal closure in response to water stress.
C4 Photosynthesis is a process found in certain plants that evolved in hot and arid environments, where carbon dioxide is initially incorporated into a four-carbon compound before entering the Calvin cycle.
Photosynthesis is a process that provides the oxygen needed for respiration, while respiration provides the carbon dioxide needed for photosynthesis, linking the two processes.
Plant taxonomy provides insights into the evolutionary history and relationships among plant species, contributing to ecological understanding.
Sclerenchyma tissue consists of cells with thick, lignified walls that provide rigid support to mature plant parts, including two types: fibers (elongated cells found in vascular bundles) and sclereids (short, irregular cells found in seed coats and fruit shells).
Xylem tissue is composed of tracheids and vessel elements that transport water and minerals from roots to shoots and also provides structural support.
Phloem tissue is made up of sieve tube elements and companion cells, which transport organic compounds like sugars from leaves to other parts of the plant.
Plant taxonomy is a branch of botany that deals with the identification, classification, and naming of plants based on their morphological, anatomical, genetic, and evolutionary characteristics.
Transpiration is the process in plants where water is continuously transported from the soil to the atmosphere, primarily occurring through stomata for gas exchange and water vapor release.
Photoperiodism affects the timing of flowering and other seasonal responses in plants.
The Family level of plant taxonomy is particularly relevant to studying plant interactions and ecological roles.
Angiosperms are flowering trees that reproduce through flowers and seeds enclosed in fruits; they represent the largest group of plants, with over 300,000 known species.
Vascular tissue is responsible for the transport of water, nutrients, and organic compounds in plants, consisting of xylem and phloem.
Thigmotropism is the response to touch or physical contact with a solid object, commonly seen in climbing plants and vines as they seek support for growth.
The rate of transpiration can be influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, wind, and light intensity.
Photoperiodism is the regulation of various plant processes, particularly flowering and dormancy, based on the length of day and night.
Day-neutral plants are those that are not influenced by the length of day or night and can flower regardless of photoperiod.
Ground tissue makes up the bulk of the plant body and is located between the epidermis and vascular tissue, functioning in photosynthesis, storage, and support.
Botany is the scientific study of plants, encompassing their structure, growth, development, classification, and interactions with the environment.
Auxins promote cell elongation and differentiation, control apical dominance, and are involved in phototropism and gravitropism.
Gibberellins stimulate stem elongation and cell division, promote seed germination, and play a role in flowering and fruit development.
Ethylene is a gas hormone that influences fruit ripening and senescence, and induces the triple response in seedlings under mechanical stress.
Halophytes are plants that thrive in saline (highly salty) environments, such as mangroves and salt marsh grasses.
Non-Vascular Plants lack specialized vascular tissues and do not have true roots, stems, or leaves; examples include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.
Petals are colorful and attractive floral parts that serve to attract pollinators like insects and birds, and are often collectively known as the corolla.
