A Selected Plant Glossary

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Angiosperm

Any seed plant whose seeds are surrounded by the mature ovary or fruit

 

 

Adventitious

Organ or structure in an unusual place such as roots growing from the stem

 

 

Antheridium

In bryophytes it is the gametophyte tissue that produces and releases the sperm

 

 

Apical cells

cells growing from the shoot or root tip

 

 

Archegonium

In plants it is the gametophyte tissue that produces and houses the egg, and for a time supports the embryo

 

 

Dioecious

The condition where sperm and egg are produced in separate individuals (two houses)

 

 

Gametophyte

The haploid generation of plants which produce eggs and sperm

 

 

Heterosporous

Referring to plants that produce microspores and megaspores, which give rise, respectively, to sperm-producing and egg producing gametophytes

 

 

Homosporous

Pertaining to plants that produce only one type of spore so their gametophytes are monoecious producing both egg and sperm (mosses and ferns)

 

 

Megagametophyte

is the female gametophyte, the product of a megaspore. It is within the megagametophyte that the egg will form

 

 

Megaspore

In heterosporous plants, spores that form the female gametophyte (megagametophyte) which in turn produces the egg

 

 

Megaspore mother cell

In the seed cone and in the ovary of a flower, a diploid cell destined to undergo meiosis and form four haploid magaspores, one of which gives rise to the female gametophyte

 

 

Microgametophyte

It is the male gametophyte, the product of a microspore and a structure in which sperm form

 

 

Microspore

In heterosporous plants, spores that form the male gametophyte (microgametophyte) which produces sperm

 

 

Microspore mother cell

In either the pollen cone or in the anther of a flower, a diploid cell destined to undergo meiosis and form haploid microspores, cells that form male gametophytes

 

 

Monoecious

means "one house". Monoecious plants produce both egg and sperm in one individual.

 

 

Ovule

In the sporophyte, tissue containing the megaspore mother cell, and a surrounding nucellus and integuments. It later contains the egg cell, and, following fertilization and development forms the seed.

 

 

Phloem

Vascular tissue specialized for the transport of sap containing sugars and other substances

 

 

Pollen grain

The microspore of a seed plant, haploid cells that comprise of give rise to the male gametophyte (microgametophyte)

 

 

Xylem

Vascular tissue designed to help transport water and minerals from the root to the leaves. The most primitive of the xylem vessels is the tracheid. All plants which use tracheids are called tracheophytes

 

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