R2101 - Structure & function of plant cells, tissues & vegetative organs Flashcards

1
Q

2.1 State the function of a cell wall.

A
  • the outer coating of the cell
  • allows substances dissolved in water to pass through
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2
Q

2.1 State the function of a cell membrane.

A
  • controls the passage of substances (dissolved in water) to pass into and out of the cell
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3
Q

2.1 State the function of the nucleus.

A
  • contains all the genetic information the cell needs to carry out its functions
  • it’s use of DNA and RNA enables it to coordinate the activities of the organelles within the cell
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4
Q

2.1 State the function of the vacuole.

A
  • a fluid sac which may take up a lot of space in some cells
  • helps the cell maintain its shape and turgidity
  • acts as storage for compounds in solution
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5
Q

2.1 State the function of the cytoplasm.

A
  • jelly like substance (mostly water) contained by the membrane
  • allows substances dissolved in it to move around the cell and take part in chemical reactions within it
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6
Q

2.1 State the function of the chloroplast.

A
  • Photosynthesis
  • chloroplast plays a crucial role, as it contains the chlorophyll which transforms CO2 and water into sugars, using energy from light
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7
Q

2.1 State the function of the mitochondrion.

A
  • mitochondria are small bodies which act as an energy source for the cell.
  • They produce energy through the process of cellular respiration.
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8
Q

Where cell division is located

2.1 Describe meristematic tissues or meristems.

A
  • meristematic tissues are where new cells are produced by cell division
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9
Q

2.1 Describe a lateral meristem.

A
  • lateral meristems are responsible for width-ways growth
  • continues the process of growth in woody plants
  • stems get wider and become woody
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10
Q

2.1 Describe apical meristems.

A
  • an apical meristem is found at the tip of a stem or root
  • it enables stems and roots to get longer
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11
Q

cell division and enlargement

2.1 Describe how plants increase in size.

A
  • Plants grow by increasing the number of cells they have by the process of cell division.
  • Cell enlargement occurs as new cells elongate and take in water to fill out the vacuole.
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12
Q

2.2 State what is meant by the term plant tissue.

A

A collection of similar cells performing an organised function for the plant.

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13
Q

2.2 Describe the characteristics and function of the epidermis (protective tissues)

A
  • the epidermis covers the entire plant (the skin of the plant)
  • is a single layer of cells, which are adapted to form a protective layer
  • protects against water loss and physical damage
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14
Q

transport tissues

2.2 Describe the characteristics and function of the phloem.

A
  • Living cells
  • Requires energy as an active process
  • Moves sugars produced by photosynthesis to where they are needed e.g growing parts of the plant for immediate use, storage organs such as bulbs and tubers
  • Mostly carries solution – down from the leaves towards the roots.
  • Can transport the other way, depending on the needs of the plant
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15
Q

transport tissues

2.2 Describe the characteristics and function of the xylem.

A
  • A tissue which transports water and minerals from the roots upwards to the plant stem and leaves
  • A physical process. Does not require energy
  • generally not living, as cells die soon after formation
  • Forms a continuous, hollow tube strengthened by lignin
  • Gives strength and support to the plant
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16
Q

packing tissues

2.2 Describe the characteristics and function of the parenchyma.

A
  • packing material
  • living plant tissue
  • majority of stem tissue in herbaceous plants, leaves, flowers and fruit in most plants
  • adaptable, with differentiation to various functions
  • involved in photosynthesis, secretion and food storage
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17
Q

2.3 State the primary functions of the root.

A
  • anchors the plant to the ground or other growing surface
  • enables the plant to extract water and mineral nutrients from the soil
  • also often functions as storage organs for nutrients
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18
Q

2.3 Describe a tap root including its origin.

A
  • single large root originating from the radicle
  • grows downwards, sending out smaller lateral roots from the side
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19
Q

2.3 Describe a lateral root including its origin.

A
  • smaller roots that originate from the primary tap root that extend horizontally
  • help to anchor the plant securely into the soil
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20
Q

2.3 Describe a fibrous root including its origin.

A
  • originates from the base of the stem
  • grow close to the surface and spread horizontally
  • less effective at anchorage
  • very effective at obtaining water and nutrients from the soil
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21
Q

2.3 Describe an adventitious root including its origin.

A
  • originate from stem; underground or above ground
  • can grow from any part of the plant except the radical
  • grown by plants for stability
  • grown by plants trying to occupy new territory and spread
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22
Q

2.3 Describe the difference between monocotyledon and dicotyledon roots.

A
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23
Q

2.3 Describe the function of the root cap.

A
  • a protective cover for the apical meristem
  • it produces a lubricating gel which eases the root through the soil
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24
Q

2.3 Describe the function of the apical meristem within a root.

A

The growing tip where cells divide and new growth occurs, lengthening the root.

25
Q

2.3 Describe the function of the zone of elongation within a root.

A
  • where young cells stretch and become longer by taking in water
26
Q

2.3 Describe the function of the zone of differentiation within a root.

A
  • cells stop elongating and take on their adult form
  • some will form the xylem and phloem
  • others will form the endodermis and pericycle
27
Q

2.3 Describe the function of root hairs.

A
  • enable the plant to absorb water and nutrients from the soil
  • short-lived but play an immensely important role
28
Q

2.3 Describe the function of the root epidermis.

A
  • single layer of cells which has an absorptive and protective function
  • aids in absorption of water and minerals
  • unlike stem epidermis it lacks cuticle as reducing water loss unnecessary in the root
29
Q

2.3 Describe the function of the root cortex.

A
  • cells lying between the epidermis and the vascular tissues
  • respires to produce energy for the growth of the root
  • absorbs mineral nutrients
  • may also store starch
30
Q

2.3 Describe the function of the root endodermis.

A

single layer of cells between the cortex and pericycle

controls the passage of water and nutrients into the stele (central region of the root)

31
Q

2.3 Describe the function of the pericycle.

A
  • just inside the endodermis
  • capable of producing lateral roots which then thrust outwards through the cortex
32
Q

2.3 Describe the function of phloem in the root.

A
  • transports sugars from the leaves to provide energy for the living cells of the root
33
Q

2.3 Describe the function of xylem in the root.

A

transports water and dissolved minerals up to the stem and leaves

34
Q

2.3 Describe the function of cambium in the root.

A

monocots - a layer of cambium between xylem and phloem to allows for some increased growth

dicots - cambium tissue is more extensive and allows for gradual thickening of the root

35
Q

2.3 Root adaptations (with examples) - tap root and root tuber

A
  • roots are often adapted to function as storage organ - sugars are often converted into starches for long-term storage
  • perennation - storing food enabling the plant to survive unfavourable conditions
  • tap roots biennials Daucus (carrots)
  • tubers perennials - Dahlia and Solanum tuberosum (potatoes)
36
Q

2.3 Root adaptations (with examples) - climbing

A
  • aerial roots, specialised adventitious roots, which grow out of the stem
  • used to anchor a climbing plant to a surface
  • Hedera helix (ivy)
37
Q

2.3 Root adaptations (with examples) - support/prop

A
  • aerial roots, specialised adventitious roots, which grow out of the stem, acting as prop roots to help support the plant
  • Zea mays (maize)
38
Q

2.4 State the primary functions of the stem.

A
  • transportation of water and nutrients between the roots and the leaves
  • hold leaves and flowers in optimum position for the plant:
  1. Leaves need to be held apart from each other so they do not shade each other – their spacing on the stem helps this
  2. Flowers need to be held up to attract pollinators
  3. Seed heads need to be in an elevated position to maximise distribution
39
Q

2.4 Draw and label a transverse section through a young dicotyledon stem.

A
  1. epidermis
  2. cortex
  3. cambium
  4. phloem
  5. xylem
  6. pith
  7. vascular bundle
40
Q

2.4 Draw and label the external structures of a young dicotyledon stem.

A
  1. lenticels
  2. nodes
  3. auxillary buds
  4. apical buds
  5. scale scars
  6. leaf scars
41
Q

2.4 Name and state the functions of a stem’s internal components.

A
  1. epidermis - protective cellsaround the stem, containsstomatato allowgas exchangebetweenplantandatmosphere
  2. cortex - Packing Cells, beneath epidermis (parenchyma)
  3. cambium - Meristematic cells, allows continued growth (part of vascular bundle)
  4. phloem - transport cells, part of vascular bundle, transports food down and up (living)
  5. xylem - transport cells, part of vascular bundle, transports food up (non living)
  6. pith - central part of the stem (parenchyma)
  7. vascular bundle - Phloem | Cambium | Xylem
42
Q

2.4 Name and state the functions of a stem’s external components.

A
  1. lenticels - Pores on stem for gas exchange between the atmosphere and internal tissues
  2. nodes - the point where a leaf joins the stem
  3. buds - tightly-packed young leaves (and sometimes flowers) for growth next year
  4. bud scales - protective coating surrounding buds
  5. axillary buds - smaller buds which will develop into lateral (i.e. side) branches
  6. apical buds - buds at the stem tip – they make the stem grow longer next year
  7. bud scale scars - shows where last year’s apical bud was positioned
  8. leaf scars - where leaves were attached in the previous growing season
43
Q

2.4 Describe how the stem is adapted to perform
other functions - protection

A
  • spines (thorns) - modified branches growing from axillary buds e.g Crataegus spp. (hawthorns)
  • protect the plants from being eaten by grazing animals
  • common on plants of dry environments
  • prickles - specialised outgrowths of the epidermis e.g Rosa spp. (Roses)
  • prickles enable the plants to climb
44
Q

2.4 Describe how the stem is adapted to perform
other functions - storage/perennation

A

Modified underground stems provide food storage for the plant during winter or other seasons when the plant is dormant – this allows for perennation (the plant to be perennial)

corms - compressed underground shoots which the stem is swollen with starch. Each year new corms form on top of the old one e.g. Crocus ‘Barr’s Purple’

tubers - Solanum tuberosum (potato)

rhizomes - thickened stems which run along the ground surface, rooting into the ground as they go e.g Iris germanica

45
Q

2.4 Describe how the stem is adapted to perform
other functions - climbing

A

Climbing plants use stems to attach themselves to supports and climb. This is often done through the stem ‘twining’, i.e. spiralling around the support

Wisteria passiflora

46
Q

2.4 Describe how the stem is adapted to perform
other functions - natural vegetative reproduction

A

natural vegetative reproduction - stems stretch out projecting growth and potential new plants, way beyond the parent

stolons (runners) - Fragaria spp. (strawberries)

rhizomes - Iris germanica

tubers - Solanun tuberosum (potato)

47
Q

2.5 State the primary function of leaves.

A
  • Leaves vary greatly in colour, shape and the way that they are arranged on the stem.
  • The primary function of leaves is to act as a site for photosynthesis.
48
Q

2.5 Leaves - Describe the petiole.

A

petiole - the stalk where the leaf is attached to the stem

49
Q

2.5 Leaves - Describe the lamina.

A

lamina - the blade or body of the leaf

50
Q

2.5 Leaves - Describe the veins

A

veins - contain xylem and phloem and act as transport networks linking the leaf lamina with the rest of the plant

51
Q

2.5 Leaves - Describe the midrib

A

midrib - large strengthened vein running along the centre of a dicotyledon leaf

52
Q

2.5 Leaves - Describe a simple leaf.

A
  • undivided
  • continuous leaf blade
  • axilliary bud at the base of the petiole
53
Q

2.5 Leaves - Describe a compound leaf.

A
  • made up of multiple leaflets.
54
Q

2.5 Leaves - Describe a pinnate leaf.

A
  • compound
  • leaflets arranged in two rows either side of a midrib (like a feather)
55
Q

2.5 Leaves - Describe a palmate leaf.

A
  • compound
  • palmate (like the palm of the hand)
  • leaflets all join the stem at the same point
56
Q

2.5 Leaves - Describe how leaves are adapted to perform other functions - storage/perennation

A
  • bulbs are plants which produce leaves directly from an underground storage organ (the bulb)
  • bulbs are made up of leaf bases, which have swollen up to store nutrients and water for perennation
  • Narcissus spp. & tulipa spp.
  • leaves act as storage for water in many succulent plants Sedum spp. & Aeonium spp.
57
Q

2.5 Leaves - Describe how leaves are adapted to perform other functions - protection

A

some plants have evolved turning some leaves into spines Berberis spp. (barberry) as protection against grazing herbivores

Cacti all leaves have truned into spines, offering protection and reducing water loss

58
Q

2.5 Leaves - Describe how leaves are adapted to perform other functions - climbing tendrils/twining

A

tendrils/climbing enable climbing plants reach up towards the light

  • some plants have evolved leaves which form tendrils that cling on to anything in their path Lathyrus odoratus (sweet pea)
  • some plants do the same thing with leaves where the petioles twist (twining) around possible supports Clematis spp.
59
Q

2.5 Leaves - Describe how leaves are adapted to perform other functions - attracting pollinators by bracts

A
  • bracts are brightly coloured leaves around flower clusters to aid in attracting pollinators
  • where there are bracts the flowers themselves are relatively insignificant
  • Hydrangea spp.