Botany Terms

Front 1

Anther

Back 1

The portion of the stamen which is the site of microsporogenesis and
microgametogenesis.

Front 2

Antipodal Cells

Back 2

The three cells of the megagametophyte towards the chalazal end of the ovule.

Front 3

Basal Cell

Back 3

The large cell at the base of a developing embryo.

Front 4

Carpel

Back 4

The female reproductive part of the flower, composed of a stigma, style and ovary. Collectively, carpels make up the Gynoecium

Front 5

Central Cell

Back 5

The cell of the megagametophyte which contains two nuclei. Following double
fertilization, the central cell will divide and give rise to the endosperm

Front 6

Coleoptile

Back 6

The sheath of tissue surrounding the epicotyl of monocot embryos.

Front 7

Coleorhiza

Back 7

the sheath of tissue surrounding the radicle of monocot embryos.

Front 8

Cotyledons

Back 8

The “seed leaves” of seed plants, formed during embryo development, they either
absorb (monocots) or provide nutrients (dicots) for the embryo during early
growth following seed germination.

Front 9

Double Fertilization

Back 9

The type of fertilization in Angiosperms, where one sperm cell fertilizes
the egg, while a second fuses with the nuclei of the central cell to form
endosperm.

Front 10

Endosperm

Back 10

The triploid nutritive tissue formed during double fertilization within the ovule.
Provides nutrients for the developing embryo.

Front 11

Epicotyl

Back 11

The embryonic shoot.

Front 12

Filament

Back 12

The stalk to which the anthers are attached, making up a stamen.

Front 13

Funiculus

Back 13

The strand of tissue that connects the ovule to the placenta (ovary wall).

Front 14

Generative Cell

Back 14

The cell within the microgametophyte which divides to form two sperm cells.

Front 15

Hypocotyl

Back 15

The region between the epicotyl and the radicle; an intermediate zone where the differing vascular anatomies of the shoot and root connect.

Front 16

Integument

Back 16

the layers of tissue surrounding the nucellus in the ovule. Angiosperms have two integuments in each ovule.

Front 17

Locule

Back 17

A chamber; can refer to the chamber within an ovary which contains ovules, or the chamber within an anther sac which contains developing pollen.

Front 18

Megagametogenesis

Back 18

The development of the megagametophyte from a megaspore

Front 19

Megaspore

Back 19

The spore which develops into the megagametophyte

Front 20

Megasporocyte

Back 20

The diploid cell which divides meiotically to form megaspores

Front 21

Megasporogenesis

Back 21

The process by which a megasporocyte undergoes meiosis to form 4
megaspore nuclei, three of which disintegrate, leaving a single
megaspore.

Front 22

Microgametogenesis

Back 22

The development of the microgametophyte from a microspore.

Front 23

Micropyle

Back 23

The opening in the integuments of an ovule, through which the sperm enter for Fertilization

Front 24

Microspore

Back 24

The spore which develops into the microgametophyte.

Front 25

Microsporocyte

Back 25

The diploid cell which divides meiotically to form microspores

Front 26

Microsporogenesis

Back 26

The process by which a microsporocyte undergoes meiosis to form 4 microspores.

Front 27

Nucellus

Back 27

The structure within the ovule, surrounded by two integuments which contains the megasporocyte, and ultimately, the megagametophyte An integumented
megasporangium.

Front 28

Ovary

Back 28

The Portion of the Carpel that contains the ovules. Ovaries ultimately develop into fruit.

Front 29

Ovule

Back 29

The structure within the ovary in which the megagametophyte develops; a nucellus surrounded by two integuments.

Front 30

Placenta

Back 30

The portion of ovary wall to which ovules attach

Front 31

Polar nuclei

Back 31

The two nuclei found within the central cell

Front 32

Pollen grain

Back 32

The microgametophyte of Angiosperms, sometimes refers to the microspore.

Front 33

Pollen Tube (cell)

Back 33

The cell of the microgametophyte which grows within the carpel after pollination, carrying the sperm to the egg.

Front 34

Radicle

Back 34

The embryonic root

Front 35

Root Apical Meristem (RAM)

Back 35

The meristem which gives rise to the root.

Front 36

Scutellum

Back 36

The cotyledon of monocots, an absorptive structure for the developing embryo.

Front 37

Shoot Apical Meristem

Back 37

the meristem which gives rise to the shoot; has two regions, the Tunica and Corpus.

Front 38

Stigma

Back 38

The tip of the Carpel, on which pollen grains land .

Front 39

Style

Back 39

The portion of the carpel between the stigma and the ovary.

Front 40

Suspensors

Back 40

the filament of tissue to which the proembryonic initials are attached in a
developing embryo. Suspends the embryo within the endosperm.

Front 41

Synergids

Back 41

The two cells on the micropylar end of the megagametophyte involved in sperm recognition before fertilization.

Front 42

Abaxial

Back 42

Directed away from an axis (the lower surface of a leaf).

Front 43

Adaxial

Back 43

Directed toward an axis (the upper surface of a leaf). Opposite of abaxial

Front 44

Endarch

Back 44

The direction of xylem maturation in shoots of seed plants, where the direction of
maturation is from the inner portion of the stem (protoxylem) to the outside
(metaxylem).

Front 45

Endogenous Growth

Back 45

Growth originating from deep-seated tissues (Ex. Lateral root growth).

Front 46

Exarch

Back 46

The direction of xylem maturation in roots of seed plants, where the direction of
maturation is from the outer portion of the root (protoxylem) to the inside
(metaxylem).

Front 47

Exogenous Growth

Back 47

Growth originating from superficial tissues (Ex. Lateral shoot growth).

Front 48

Ground Meristem

Back 48

Meristematic tissue which gives rise to ground tissues, pith and cortex

Front 49

Internode

Back 49

Portion of the stem between nodes.

Front 50

Marginal meristem

Back 50

In leaves, the meristem along the margin of the leaf primordium,
Resulting in the growth of the leaf blade.

Front 51

Metaxylem

Back 51

Primary xylem elements which mature after elongation has ceased; often having
thick, complex secondary wall thickenings, when compared to protoxylem.

Front 52

Node

Back 52

The portion of the stem to which leaves are attached.

Front 53

Primary Growth

Back 53

Growth resulting from apical meristems resulting in increase in length of the
plant body

Front 54

Protoderm

Back 54

The meristematic tissue which gives rise to epidermis.

Front 55

Protoxylem

Back 55

Early maturing xylem- matures when the axis is still elongating. There are two
forms, with either spiral or annular secondary wall thickenings, which allow it to
elongate with surrounding tissues, unlike metaxylem.

Front 56

Procambium

Back 56

The meristematic tissue which gives rise to primary
xylem and phloem.

Front 57

Parenchyma

Back 57

Cells which usually have only thin primary cell walls; typically living at
maturity. The cells which make up the majority of the cortex and pith are
parenchyma.

Front 58

Collenchyma

Back 58

Cells which have thickened primary cell walls, can be either living or dead at maturity. Fibers can be made of collenchyma. Sieve elements in Phloem are also considered to be collenchyma.

Front 59

Sclerenchyma

Back 59

Cells which have thickened secondary walls, and are typically dead at
maturity. Fibers can be scelerenchyma cells, as well as the conducting cells
of the xylem, tracheids and vessel members.
Anticlinal- Orientation of a cell wall or plane of cell division perpendicular to the nearest
surface.

Front 60

Cork Cambium

Back 60

See phellogen.

Front 61

Fascicular Cambium

Back 61

Lateral meristem originating from procambial cells in a vascular bundle.
Produces derivatives which mature into secondary xylem and phloem.
Eventually fascicular cambia unite to form the Vascular Cambium.

Front 62

Interfascicular Cambium
fascicular cambia join to form the Vascular Cambium

Back 62

Lateral meristem originating from ground tissue between vascular bundles. Produces secondary ground tissue. Keeps stem intact until

Front 63

Periclinal

Back 63

Orientation of a cell wall or plane of cell division parallel to the nearest
Surface.

Front 64

Phellogen

Back 64

Lateral meristem which produces Phellem (Bark) and Phelloderm. Also referred to as the Cork cambium.

Front 65

Vascular Cambium

Back 65

Lateral meristem which produces secondary xylem and phloem.

Front 66

Stamen

Back 66

The male reproductive part of the flower; collectively, the stamens make up the Androecium.

Front 67

Phellem

Back 67

Secondary protective tissue produced by the Phellogen, known as Bark. Matures to the outside of the phellogen.

Front 68

Phelloderm

Back 68

Secondary tissue produced by the phellogen in limited quantities. Matures to the
inside of the phellogen.