Not involving gamete formation. No sex involved. asexual
A plant that takes two years (i.e. two growing seasons) to complete its life cycle, e.g. parsnip, carrot, etc. In the first year, the seeds germinate and grow into a plant which produces and stores food in an underground perennating organ, and the foliage above ground usually dies back in autumn. In the second year, new shoots arise from the underground organ to produce flowers and seeds.
A type of capsule containing seed. Seed are dispersed through small openings when the capsule is shaken by the wind, e.g. poppy.
The transfer of pollen from the anther of the stamen of one flower to the stigma of the carpel of another flower on a different plant of the same species.
The bursting open or splitting of a plant structure (e.g. capsule, seed pod, fruit or anther) to release its contents.
A period of rest, inactivity or non-vegetative state before growth, during which the rate of metabolism is reduced, e.g. in buds, seeds and spores. Seeds will not germinate during this time, even if given ideal conditions, because other requirements may be necessary before germination can occur.
This is a characteristic of angiosperms. The pollen tube carries two sperm nuclei to the female embryo sac in the ovule. One sperm nucleus fuses with the egg cell and gives rise to a diploid embryo.
The other sperm nucleus fuses with the two polar nuclei to form a triploid endosperm nucleus.
Large oval cell in nucellus of ovule. Female gametophyte of angiosperm. Produces an ovum at micropylar end and two polar (or endosperm) nuclei in the centre.
A seed whose main food store is in the endosperm, e.g. maize. This food store is used by the embryo for its growth.
biennial
censer
cross pollination
dehiscence
dormancy double
fertilization
embryo sac
endospermic seed
Part of a plant embryo/seedling above the cotyledons. Gives rise to the shoot.
epicotyl
Thick outer wall of a pollen grain. exine
The stalk of the anther (i.e. the pollen producing part of flower). filament
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An asexual method of reproduction where parts of an organism break off and are capable of developing into a new organism, e.g. seaweeds, bacteria, fungi (yeast).
Any cell which must fuse with another cell in order to produce a new individual. A haploid reproductive cell, i.e. it contains half the required genetic information for the formation of a new individual or half the somatic number of chromosomes.
fragmentation
gamete
Found in the pollen grain and divides by mitosis after pollination to form two male gamete nuclei. generative
nucleus
Method of plant propagation where scion is attached to stock, e.g. apple trees.
grafting
Part of a plant embryo/seedling below the cotyledons. Gives rise to the radicle, produces the root.
Inner and outer layers which surround a mature ovule in a flowering plant to form the testa (seed coat). Small opening remains called the micropyle.
A method of artificial/vegetative propagation where a branch of a plant is bent over and pinned to the earth at a node. When roots develop the branch is separated from the parent plant.
The cell that undergoes meiosis to produce the megaspore. Also called the embryo sac mother cell.
The growing of a new plant from a small piece of stem, leaf or root tissue in a container of sterile nutrient medium which contains hormones and growth substances.
Cells in the pollen sacs from which microspores (pollen grains) are produced. In flowering plants, the microspore is the pollen grain, and contains three nuclei.
Nutritive tissue found in the ovule and nourishes the embryo sac during its development.
hypocotyl
integuments
layering megaspore
mother cell
micro-propagation microspore mother cell /
pollen mother cell
nucellus
In ovary of flower, consists of nucellus, embryo sac and integuments.
When fertilised, develops into the seed. ovule
Of plants. Surviving adverse conditions (winter) by storing food in an underground stem or tap root. This food is used to produce new growth the following spring. perennation
Terminal bud or epicotyl of embryo in seed plan
Microspores of seed plants (angiosperms and gymnosperms) produced by a pollen mother cell in the pollen sac. Contains two nuclei – tube and generative. The generative nucleus produces the male gametes. plumule pollen grain
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Slender tube formed on germination of pollen grain; carries the two sperm nuclei to the opening of the embryo sac at the micropyle. pollen tube
The tips of a flower stalk (pedicel) on or around which the flower parts develop.
Outgrowth from plant growing horizontally over the soil surface.
Forms roots near its tip and the terminal bud sends up a new shoot, e.g. strawberry, creeping buttercup.
A mature/ripened ovule consisting of an embryo and food store which can give rise to a new individual. receptacle runner(s) seed
Method used to scatter/spread seed from the parent plant using explosive pods, e.g. pea, gorse, lupin, etc.
The transfer of pollen from the anther of the stamen of one flower to the stigma of the carpel of the same flower or another flower on the same plant.
Reproduction involving the production, transfer and union of sex cells or gametes and development of the embryo. Two parents involved (plant or animal), one male and one female.
Structure in a flower that produces pollen, consists of anther and filament. selfdispersal self-pollination sexual reproduction stamen
The stump, butt or main trunk onto which the scion is grafted. stock
In the anther of the stamen, a layer of nutritive cells surrounding the pollen sacs. tapetum
One of the nuclei in the pollen grain in seed plants. It grows down through the stigma, style, and into the ovule, followed by the two male gamete nuclei to enter the embryo sac through the micropyle.
Capable of growth, development and sustaining life. Term used when describing foetus or dormant seed. tube nucleus viable
Method used to scatter/spread seed from the parent plant using wind, e.g. grasses. wind dispersal
A diploid cell resulting from the union of two haploid gametes, i.e. a fertilised egg. zygote
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