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5.6.6: Key Terms

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    97156
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    anther
    sac-like structure at the tip of the stamen in which pollen grains are produced
    Anthophyta
    phylum to which angiosperms belong
    barcoding
    molecular biology technique in which one or more short gene sequences taken from a well-characterized portion of the genome is used to identify a species
    basal angiosperms
    a group of plants that probably branched off before the separation of monocots and eudicots
    calyx
    whorl of sepals
    carpel
    single unit of the pistil
    conifer
    dominant phylum of gymnosperms with the greatest variety of trees
    corolla
    collection of petals
    cotyledon
    primitive leaf that develops in the zygote; monocots have one cotyledon, and dicots have two cotyledons
    crop
    cultivated plant
    cycad
    gymnosperm that grows in tropical climates and resembles a palm tree; member of the phylum Cycadophyta
    dicot
    (also, eudicot) related group of angiosperms whose embryos possess two cotyledons
    dioecious
    describes a species in which the male and female reproductive organs are carried on separate specimens
    filament
    thin stalk that links the anther to the base of the flower
    flower
    branches specialized for reproduction found in some seed-bearing plants, containing either specialized male or female organs or both male and female organs
    fruit
    thickened tissue derived from ovary wall that protects the embryo after fertilization and facilitates seed dispersal
    ginkgophyte
    gymnosperm with one extant species, the Ginkgo biloba: a tree with fan-shaped leaves
    gnetophyte
    gymnosperm shrub with varied morphological features that produces vessel elements in its woody tissues; the phylum includes the genera Ephedra, Gnetum, and Welwitschia
    gymnosperm
    seed plant with naked seeds (seeds exposed on modified leaves or in cones)
    gynoecium
    (also, carpel) structure that constitutes the female reproductive organ
    heirloom seed
    seed from a plant that was grown historically, but has not been used in modern agriculture on a large scale
    herbaceous
    grass-like plant noticeable by the absence of woody tissue
    herbivory
    consumption of plants by insects and other animals
    integument
    layer of sporophyte tissue that surrounds the megasporangium, and later, the embryo
    megasporocyte
    megaspore mother cell; larger spore that germinates into a female gametophyte in a heterosporous plant
    microsporocyte
    smaller spore that produces a male gametophyte in a heterosporous plant
    monocot
    related group of angiosperms that produce embryos with one cotyledon and pollen with a single ridge
    monoecious
    describes a species in which the male and female reproductive organs are on the same plant
    nectar
    liquid rich in sugars produced by flowers to attract animal pollinators
    ovary
    chamber that contains and protects the ovule or female megasporangium
    ovulate cone
    cone containing two ovules per scale
    ovule
    female gametophyte
    perianth
    part of the plant consisting of the calyx (sepals) and corolla (petals)
    petal
    modified leaf interior to the sepals; colorful petals attract animal pollinators
    pistil
    fused group of carpels
    pollen grain
    structure containing the male gametophyte of the plant
    pollen tube
    extension from the pollen grain that delivers sperm to the egg cell
    pollination
    transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma
    progymnosperm
    transitional group of plants that resembled conifers because they produced wood, yet still reproduced like ferns
    seed
    structure containing the embryo, storage tissue, and protective coat
    sepal
    modified leaf that encloses the bud; outermost structure of a flower
    spermatophyte
    seed plant; from the Greek sperm (seed) and phyte (plant)
    stamen
    structure that contains the male reproductive organs
    stigma
    uppermost structure of the carpel where pollen is deposited
    strobilus
    plant structure with a tight arrangement of sporophylls around a central stalk, as seen in cones or flowers; the male strobilus produces pollen, and the female strobilus produces eggs
    style
    long, thin structure that links the stigma to the ovary

    5.6.6: Key Terms is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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