plants

petal

A colorful, leaflike structure of some flowers.

zygote

A fertilized egg.

ovary

A flower structure that encloses and protects ovules and seeds as they develop.

angiosperm

A flowering plant that produces seeds enclosed in a protective structure.

cambium

A layer of cells in a plant that produces new phloem and xylem cells.

sepal

A leaflike structure that encloses the bud of a flower.

nonvascular plant

A low-growing plant that lacks true vascular tissue.

ovule

A plant structure in seed plants that produces the female gametophyte; contains an egg cell.

vascular plant

A plant that has true vascular tissue.

gymnosperm

A plant that produces seeds that are not enclosed by a protective fruit.

cotyledons

A seed leaf; sometimes stores food.

root cap

A structure that covers the tip of a root, protecting the root from injury.

rhizoid

A thin, rootlike structure that anchors a moss and absorbs water and nutrients for the plant.

pistil

The female reproductive part of a flower.

vascular tissue

The internal transporting tissue in some plants that is made up of tubelike structures.

frond

The leaf of a fern plant.

stamen

The male reproductive part of a flower.

cuticle

The waxy, waterproof layer that covers the leaves and stems of most plants.

embryo

The young organism that develops from a zygote.

What are the two types of angiosperms?

Angiosperms are divided into two major groups: monocots and dicots.

What are the characteristics of angiosperms and their flowers?

All angiosperms, or flowering plants, share two important traits. First, they produce flowers. Second, in contrast to gymnosperms, which produce uncovered seeds, angiosperms produce seeds that are enclosed in fruits.

monocot

An angiosperm that has only one seed leaf.

dicot

An angiosperm that has two seed leaves.

What are the characteristics of gymnosperms and how do they reproduce?

Every gymnosperm produces naked seeds. In addition, many gymnosperms have needle-like or scalelike leaves, and deep-growing root systems.

What characteristics do the three groups of seedless vascular plants share?

Ferns, club mosses, and horsetails have true vascular tissue, and they do not produce seeds. Instead of seeds, these plants reproduce by releasing spores.

How do angiosperms reproduce?

First, pollen falls on a flower's stigma. In time, the sperm cell and egg cell join together in the flower's ovule. The zygote develops into the embryo part of the seed.

What do plants need to live successfully on land?

For plants to survive on land, they must have ways to obtain water and other nutrients from their surroundings, retain water, transport materials in their bodies, support their bodies, and reproduce.

How do seeds become new plants?

Inside a seed is a partially developed plant. If a seed lands in an area where conditions are favorable, the plant sprouts out of the seed and begins to grow.

What characteristics do all plants share?

Nearly all plants are autotrophs, organisms that produce their own food. All plants are eukaryotes that contain many cells. In addition, all plant cells are surrounded by cell walls.

What are the different stages of a plant's life cycle?

Plants have complex life cycles that include two different stages, the sporophyte stage and the gametophyte stage.

What are the main functions of roots, stems, and leaves?

Roots anchor a plant in the ground, absorb water and minerals from the soil, and sometimes store food.

How do nonvascular plants and vascular plants differ?

Scientists informally group plants into two major groups—nonvascular plants and vascular plants.

What characteristics do seed plants share?

Seed plants share two important characteristics. They have vascular tissue, and they use pollen and seeds to reproduce.

seed

The plant structure that contains a young plant inside a protective covering.

transpiration

The process by which water is lost through a plant's leaves.

cone

The reproductive structure of a gymnosperm.

flower

The reproductive structure of an angiosperm.

fruit

The ripened ovary and other structures of an angiosperm that enclose one or more seeds.

Germination

The sprouting of the embryo out of a seed; occurs when the embryo resumes its growth.

gametophyte

The stage in the life cycle of a plant in which the plant produces gametes, or sex cells.

sporophyte

The stage in the life cycle of a plant in which the plant produces spores.

pollination

The transfer of pollen from male reproductive structures to female reproductive structures in plants.

phloem

The vascular tissue through which food moves in some plants.

xylem

The vascular tissue through which water and nutrients move in some plants.

What characteristics do the three groups of nonvascular plants share?

There are three major groups of nonvascular plants: mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. These low-growing plants live in moist areas where they can absorb water and other nutrients directly from their environment.

pollen

Tiny particles (male gametophytes) produced by seed plants that contain the cells that later become sperm cells.