03 Plant Biology Free Online FlashCards

What is the function of a plant cuticle?

A waxy layer that limits water loss from exposed plant surfaces.

What are two functions of xylem?

Xylem carries water and minerals, mainly upward from roots, and its strengthened cells also support the plant.

What are the main functions of roots?

Roots anchor the plant, absorb water and minerals, and may store food.

What are meristems, and what do root and shoot tip meristems do?

Meristems are regions where plant cells divide. Root and shoot tip meristems lengthen the plant.

What are the two generations in a plant life cycle?

A multicellular haploid gametophyte produces gametes; fertilization forms a diploid zygote that develops into a sporophyte. The sporophyte produces haploid spores by meiosis.

What distinguishes nonvascular plants?

Nonvascular plants lack true vascular tissue and true roots; their visible plant is usually the gametophyte, and fertilization generally requires water.

What do stomata do?

Stomata are adjustable pores that let carbon dioxide enter for photosynthesis while helping regulate water loss.

What does phloem transport?

Phloem distributes sugars and other organic nutrients through the plant.

How does pollen help seed plants reproduce on land?

Pollen carries the male gametophyte, allowing seed plants to reproduce without sperm swimming through external water.

What two advantages does a seed provide to an embryo?

A seed protects an embryo and supplies food, helping the embryo survive and disperse.

What kind of plant structure is a potato?

A potato is a storage stem, not a root.

How do seedless vascular plants reproduce?

They have xylem and phloem but reproduce by spores rather than seeds; their sperm typically need water to reach eggs.