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Glossary
Anther - The pollen sac on the male flower.
Apex
(â´-pèx)
- The tip of a shoot or root.
Apical dominance
(â´-pì-kel) - The tendency
of an apical bud to produce hormones that suppress growth of the
buds below it on the stem.
Axil
(àk´-sil)
- The location where the leaf joins a stem.
Cambium
(kàm´-bê-em)
- A layer of growing tissue the seperates the xylem and phloem
and continuously produces new xylem and phloem cells.
Chlorophyll - The pigment in leaves that is responsible for trapping light energy from the sun.
Chloroplast - A specialized component of certain cells; contains chlorophyll and is responsible for photosynthesis.
Cortex - The primary tissue of a stem or root immediately to the inside of the epidermis.
Cotyledon
(kòt´l-êd´-n)
- The first leaf that appears on a seedling. Also known as a seed
leaf.
Cuticle - Part of the epidermis; produces cutin, a waxy substance that protects a leaf from dehydration and disease.
Cutin
(kyoot´-in)
- (1) A waxy substance on plant surfaces that tends to make the
surface waterproof and can protect leaves from dehydration and
disease. (2) A waxy substance on an insect's cuticle that protects
the insect from dehydration.
Dicotyledon, Dicot
(dî´-kòtl-êd´-n,
dî´-kòt) - Having two seed leaves.
Epidermis
(èp-ì-dûr´-mìs)
- The outermost layer of cells on all the primary parts of a plant:
stem, roots, leaves, flower, fruit, and seeds.
Etiolation
(êt´-ê-e-lâ´-shen)
- Development of yellow, long, spindly growth on a plant as a
result of insufficient light.
Germination - The initial growth phase of a seed, spore or pollen grain.
Guard cell - Epidermal cells that open and close to let water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide pass through the stomata.
Hypocotyl
(hî´-pe-kät´-el)
- The first leaf-like structure that appears on a germinating
seed. Grows upward in response to light.
Internode - The space between nodes on a stem.
Meristem
(mér'-e-stem)
- Plant tissue in the process of formation; vegetative cells in
a state of active division and growth, e.g., those at the apex
of growing-stems and roots.
Mesophyll - The part of a leaf located between the upper and lower epidermis; contains the chloroplasts and other cell organelles.
Monocotyledon
, Monocot
(mó´-ne-kòt´l-êd´-n,
mó´-ne-kòt) - Having one seed leaf.
Node - An area on a stem where a leaf, stem, or flower bud is located.
Ovary - The part of the female flower where eggs are located.
Petiole
(pèt´-ê-ol´)
- The stalk that attaches a leaf to a stem.
Phloem
(flo´-èm)-
Photosynthate-conducting tissue.
Photosynthates - Food products (sugars and starches) created through photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis (fo´to-sìn´-thì-sìs) - The process in green plants of converting water and carbon dioxide into sugar using energy from sunlight.
Pistil
(pìs´-tel)-
The female flower part; consists of a stigma, style, and ovary.
Respiration - The process of converting sugars and starches into energy.
Root Stock (understock) - The trunk or root material to which buds or scions are inserted via grafting.
Scarification
(skàr´-e-fì-kâ´-shen)
- Nicking, sanding, or otherwise compromising the hard outer coating
of a seed to increase its water intake and thuspromote germination.
Sometimes incorrectly called scarfing.
Scion - A cutting or bud that is inserted by grafting into a rootstock.
Stamen
(stâ´-men)-
The male flower part; consists of an anther and a supporting filament.
Stigma - The top of a female flower part; collects pollen.
Stoma (pl. stomates, stomata) - Tiny openings in the epidermis that allow water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide to pass into and out of a plant.
Style - The part of the female flower that connects the stigma to the ovary. Pollen travels down the style to reach the ovary, where fertilization occurs.
Totipotent
(tot-e-pot´-ent) - Possessing the ability to grow into a complete plant from any single cell of that plant.
Transpiration - The process of losing water through stomata.
Tunicate
(tunicate)
- A type of bulb that has a thin papery covering on the outside.
Turgor
(ter´-ger)
- Cellular water pressure; responsible for keeping cells firm.
Vascular - Water- and nutrient-conducting tissue (xylem and phloem).
Xylem
(zî´-lem)-
Water-conducting tissue.
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