Anatomy OF Flowering Plants flash cards

1. 1.What is anatomy in the context of plants?

   The study of the internal structure of plants (internal organisation of tissues and cells).

   Hint: 'internal' study

2. 2.What is a tissue?

   A group of cells having a common origin and usually performing a common function.

   Hint: common origin + function

3. 3.On the basis of dividing capacity, plant tissues are of which two types?

   Meristematic tissues and permanent tissues.

   Hint: dividing vs non-dividing

4. 4.What are meristematic tissues (meristems)?

   Tissues made of cells capable of active division; responsible for growth of the plant.

   Hint: 'meristos' = divisible

5. 5.Name the three types of meristems based on their location in the plant body.

   Apical meristem, intercalary meristem and lateral meristem.

   Hint: tip, base of internode, sides

6. 6.Where is the apical meristem located and what does it do?

   At the tips of roots and shoots; it produces primary tissues and causes increase in length (primary growth).

   Hint: root & shoot tips

7. 7.What is the promeristem?

   The early group of cells constituted just after fertilisation (the initial embryonic meristematic region).

   Hint: 'pro' = before

8. 8.Differentiate the terms 'initials' and 'derivatives' in a meristem.

   Initials are cells that remain meristematic and keep dividing; derivatives are new cells added by the initials that go on to differentiate.

   Hint: one stays, one leaves

9. 9.During formation of leaves and elongation of stem, what group of cells is left behind from the shoot apical meristem?

   Axillary buds — meristems present in the axils of leaves capable of forming a branch or flower.

   Hint: in leaf axils

10. 10.What is intercalary meristem and where is it found?

    A meristem that occurs between mature tissues, often at the base of internodes/leaves (e.g. in grasses); it helps in length increase.

    Hint: grasses regrow after cutting

11. 11.Apical and intercalary meristems together are called what type of meristem?

    Primary meristems — they appear early in life and contribute to the primary plant body.

    Hint: appear early, primary body

12. 12.What is lateral meristem and what is its function?

    A meristem that occurs in the mature regions of roots and shoots (cylindrical, along the sides); it produces secondary tissues causing increase in girth.

    Hint: girth/thickness

13. 13.Give two examples of lateral meristems.

    Vascular cambium (fascicular cambium) and cork cambium (phellogen).

    Hint: one makes wood, one makes cork

14. 14.Lateral meristems are classified as primary or secondary meristems?

    Secondary meristems — they appear later in life and add to the secondary plant body.

    Hint: later in life

15. 15.What are permanent tissues?

    Tissues made of cells that have lost the ability to divide and have taken up a specific role (they are differentiated).

    Hint: lost divideability

16. 16.What is differentiation?

    The process by which cells derived from meristems mature to perform specific functions, losing their capacity to divide.

    Hint: maturation into a role

17. 17.What is dedifferentiation?

    When a living differentiated cell regains the capacity to divide under certain conditions (e.g. interfascicular cambium, cork cambium).

    Hint: gaining division ability back

18. 18.What is redifferentiation?

    When cells produced by dedifferentiated meristems again lose the capacity to divide and mature into permanent tissue (e.g. secondary xylem/phloem, cork).

    Hint: lose division again

19. 19.Permanent tissues are of which two broad kinds?

    Simple permanent tissues and complex permanent tissues.

    Hint: one cell type vs many

20. 20.What is a simple tissue?

    A tissue made up of only one type of cell.

    Hint: single cell type

21. 21.Name the three types of simple permanent tissues.

    Parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma.

    Hint: soft, corner-thick, hard

22. 22.Describe the cells of parenchyma.

    Living cells, generally isodiametric, with thin cellulose walls; may be spherical, oval, round, polygonal or elongated; often with small intercellular spaces.

    Hint: thin-walled, isodiametric

23. 23.List the main functions of parenchyma.

    Photosynthesis, storage of food, secretion, and other metabolic activities.

    Hint: the 'general-purpose' tissue

24. 24.Describe the structure and location of collenchyma.

    Living cells thickened at the corners due to cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin deposition; occurs in layers below epidermis in dicot herbs, often in petioles and leaves.

    Hint: thick corners

25. 25.What is the main function of collenchyma?

    Provides mechanical support to growing/young parts such as young stems and petioles; also assimilates food when it contains chloroplasts.

    Hint: support for young parts

26. 26.Do collenchyma cells have intercellular spaces?

    No — collenchyma cells have no (or very few) intercellular spaces.

    Hint: packed at corners

27. 27.Describe sclerenchyma cells.

    Long, narrow cells with thick, lignified secondary walls (often with pits); they are dead and have no protoplasts at maturity.

    Hint: dead, lignified, hard

28. 28.What is the main function of sclerenchyma?

    Provides mechanical support to organs (it is the chief mechanical/supporting tissue).

    Hint: the tough tissue

29. 29.Sclerenchyma is of which two types based on cell form?

    Fibres (long, narrow, thick-walled, pointed ends) and sclereids (short, spherical, oval or cylindrical, highly thickened dead cells with narrow lumen).

    Hint: long vs short/stone cells

30. 30.Where are sclereids commonly found?

    In the walls of legumes, hard parts of seed coats, and in the pulp of fruits like guava, pear and sapota (giving gritty texture).

    Hint: grit of pear/guava

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