PLANT STRUCTURE, REPRODUCTION, AND
DEVELOPMENT
I.
Plant scientist Katherine Esau was a preeminent student of plant
structure and function
a. Leading research in the field of plants
b. Did most of her work before the proliferation of technology
II.
The two main groups of angiosperms are the monocots and the
dicots
a. 2 main groups
i. MONOCOT  embryo with one seed leaf
ii. DICOT  two seed leafs
b. COTYLEDONS  seed leaves
III.
The plant body consists of roots and shoots
a. ROOT SYSTEM  anchors it in the soil, absorbs and
transports minerals and water, and stores food
b. ROOT HAIR  outgrowth of an epidermal cell; increases
surface area for absorption
c. SHOOT SYSTEM  made up of stems, leaves, and
adaptations for reproduction
i. STEM  hold plants upright
1. NODES  point where leaves are attached
2. INTERNODES  portion of the stem between
nodes
ii. LEAVES  main site of photosynthesis
IV.
Many plants have modified roots and shoots
a. RHIZOMES  modified horizontal stems
b. TUBERS  end of rhizomes; store food (starch)
V.
Plant cells and tissues are diverse in structure and function
a. SIEVE-TUBE MEMBERS  food-conducting cells
b. VASCULAR TISSUE
i. XYLEM  water transport
ii. PHLOEM  food (nutrient) transport
VI.
Three tissue systems make up the plant body
a. 3 Tissue System
i. EPIDERMIS  “skin”
1. CUTICLE  waxy coating
ii. VASCULAR SYSTEM
1. Made of xylem and phloem
iii. GROUND TISSUE SYSTEM
1. CORTEX
2. ENDODERMIS
3. PITH (in dicots)
b. Leaves
i. STOMATA
ii. GUARD CELLS
iii. MESOPHYLL
VII. Primary growth lengthens roots and shoots
a. INDETERMINATE GROWTH  continues growth
throughout life
b. ANNUALS  one year life cycle
c. BIANNUALS  two year life cycle
d. PERENNIALS  live for many years
e. MERISTEM  consists of localized, unspecialized cells that
divide and generate new cells and tissues
VIII. Secondary growth increases the growth of woody plants
a. Secondary growth pushes the cells outward making the plant
stem thicker
b. CORK and CAMBIUM are unique to woody plants
IX.
Overview: The sexual life cycle of a flowering plant
X.
The development of pollen and ovules culminates in fertilization
a. POLLINATION  delivery of pollen grains to stigma
XI.
The ovule develops into a seed
a. SEED COAT  covering of embryo
XII. The ovary develops into a fruit
a. FRUIT  matured ovary designed to help disperse the seeds
XIII. Seed germination continues the life cycle
a. GERMINATION  seed growing into plant
XIV. Asexual reproduction produces plant clones
a. VEGETATIVE REPRODUCTION  plant cloning in nature
XV. Vegetative reproduction is a mainstay of modern agriculture
a. VEGETATIVE PROPAGRATION  man-made cloning of
plants