Actin- a protein forming thin filaments in the muscle fibers that are pulled on by myosin cross-bridges to cause a muscle contraction Significance: determines cell polarity and directional motility
Bryophyte- a plant of the Bryophyta, a division of photosynthetic, chiefly terrestrial, nonvascular plants; examples- mosses, liverworts, and hornworts Significance: contributes to the nutrient cycle; provides seed-beds for the larger plants; forms microhabitats for insects and other microorganisms; effective rainfall interceptors
Cellulose- a complex carbohydrate (C6H10O5) that is composed of glucose units; forms the main constituent of the cell wall in most plants; important in the manufacture of numerous products such as paper, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and explosives Significance: helps scrub out intestines and keep them clean
Endosperm- the nutritive tissue within seeds of flowering plants surrounded and absorbed by the embryo Significance: plays an important role in the evolution of angiosperms because of its physiological and genetic relationships to the embryo; one manifestation of this evolutionary role is its abnormal development in interploidy crosses
Ovary- either of the two female reproductive organs which produce ova and secrete estrogen hormones Significance: it is a part of the pistil which holds the ovules and is located above, below, or at the point of connection, with the base of the petals and sepals; the pistil is made up of one carpel or of several fused carpels and therefore the ovary can contain part of one carpel or parts of several fused carpels
Frond- the leaf of a fern Significance: has a stalk called the petiole which supports a flattened blade
Gametophyte- the plant body, in species showing alternation of generations, that produces the gametes Significance: produces male of female gametes through a process of cell division called mitosis; the fusion of male and female gametes produces a diploid zygote; the product of the fusion of two haploid gametes contains two sets of chromosomes; the mature sporophyte produces spores by a process called meiosis since the choromosome pairs are separated again to form single sets; the spores are therefore once again haploid and develop into a haploid gametophyte
Meristem- a plant tissue responsible for growth, whose cells divide and differentiate to form the tissues and organs of the plant; occur within the stem and leaves and at the tips of the stems and roots Significance: can turn into a number of different types of cells and tissues depending on chemical and environmental signs
Phloem- a tissue in vascular plants that conducts food from the leaves and other photosynthetic tissues to other plant parts Significance: runs sugar from the leaves to the rest of the plant to give the plant energy to live and finally stores remaining nutrients in the root system
Xylem- a tissue in vascular plants that carries water and dissolved minerals from the roots and provides support for softer tissues Significance: provides strength for the plants
PICTURES
Conifer Leaf- any gymnospermous tree or shrub bearing cone Significance: represents the larger terrestrial carbon sink (where carbon is bound as organic compounds); are also of great economic value, primarily for timber and paper production
Dicot plant with Flower and Leaf- a flowering plant with two embryonic seed leaves or cotyledons that usually appear at germination Significance: nutritional value- most of the fruits, vegetables, spices, roots, bevarages (coffee & cocoa), oil seeds, fibers, and great variety of flowers
Fruit (dry with seed)- may be either dehiscent (opening to discharge seeds), or indehiscent (not opening to discharge seeds); examples- peanuts, ground nuts, cashews, and dry grapes Significance: nutritional value- high in fiber, water, vitamin C, and sugars
Fruit (fleshy with seed)- sweet and edible in the raw state; examples- mango, apple, grapes, and watermelon Significance: nutritional value- high in fiber, water, vitamin C, and sugars
Long-Day Plant- a plant that requires less than a certain number of hours of darkness in each 24 hour period to induce flowering; typically flower in the late spring or early summer; use the phytochrome system to sense day length or photoperiod Significance: nutritional value- spinach, lettuce, and some varieties of wheat
Adaptations of a Plant- are special features that allow a plant or animal to live in a particular place or habitat Significance: helps them survive (live and grow) in different areas
Monocot Plant with Flower and Leaf- a monocotyledonous flowering plant; the stem grows by deposits on its inside Significance: produces the largest portion of biomass such as grasses, grains, and sugar canes; feeds the world
Pollinator- to transfer pollen from an anther to the stigma of a flower Significance: accomplishes fertilization of syngamy
Short-Day Plant- a plant that cannot flower under the long days of summer; typically flower in the fall of the year; require a certain number of hours of darkness in each 24 hour period (a short day lenght) before floral development can begin; use the phytochrome system to sense day length or photoperiod Significance: nutritional value- coffee, hemp
Stem (wood)- stems of plants which have been growing for two or more years Significance: after two years, a plant's stem thickens to accommodate growth and increased circulation; example- tree trunk
BONUS
Pollen- the fine powder-like material consisting of pollen grains that is produced by the anthers of seed plants which is transported by the wind, insects, or other animals Significance: can fertilize the female ovule
Tendrill of a Plant- a twisting, thread-like structure by which a twining plant (grape or cucumber) grasps an object or a plant for support Significance: anchors and supports veining stems; supports the weight of the plant; some produce terminal enlargements that, on contact with a firm surface, flatten and secrete an adhesive, firmly cementing the tendril to the substrate
Thorn of a Plant- a stiff, sharp-pointed, straight or curved woody projection on the stem or other part of a plant Significance: protects the plant against herbivores
Significance: determines cell polarity and directional motility
Significance: contributes to the nutrient cycle; provides seed-beds for the larger plants; forms microhabitats for insects and other microorganisms; effective rainfall interceptors
Significance: helps scrub out intestines and keep them clean
Significance: plays an important role in the evolution of angiosperms because of its physiological and genetic relationships to the embryo; one manifestation of this evolutionary role is its abnormal development in interploidy crosses
Significance: it is a part of the pistil which holds the ovules and is located above, below, or at the point of connection, with the base of the petals and sepals; the pistil is made up of one carpel or of several fused carpels and therefore the ovary can contain part of one carpel or parts of several fused carpels
Significance: has a stalk called the petiole which supports a flattened blade
Significance: produces male of female gametes through a process of cell division called mitosis; the fusion of male and female gametes produces a diploid zygote; the product of the fusion of two haploid gametes contains two sets of chromosomes; the mature sporophyte produces spores by a process called meiosis since the choromosome pairs are separated again to form single sets; the spores are therefore once again haploid and develop into a haploid gametophyte
Significance: can turn into a number of different types of cells and tissues depending on chemical and environmental signs
Significance: runs sugar from the leaves to the rest of the plant to give the plant energy to live and finally stores remaining nutrients in the root system
Significance: provides strength for the plants
PICTURES
Significance: represents the larger terrestrial carbon sink (where carbon is bound as organic compounds); are also of great economic value, primarily for timber and paper production
Significance: nutritional value- most of the fruits, vegetables, spices, roots, bevarages (coffee & cocoa), oil seeds, fibers, and great variety of flowers
Significance: nutritional value- high in fiber, water, vitamin C, and sugars
Significance: nutritional value- high in fiber, water, vitamin C, and sugars
Significance: nutritional value- spinach, lettuce, and some varieties of wheat
Significance: helps them survive (live and grow) in different areas
Significance: produces the largest portion of biomass such as grasses, grains, and sugar canes; feeds the world
Significance: accomplishes fertilization of syngamy
Significance: nutritional value- coffee, hemp
Significance: after two years, a plant's stem thickens to accommodate growth and increased circulation; example- tree trunk
BONUS
Significance: can fertilize the female ovule
Significance: anchors and supports veining stems; supports the weight of the plant; some produce terminal enlargements that, on contact with a firm surface, flatten and secrete an adhesive, firmly cementing the tendril to the substrate
Significance: protects the plant against herbivores