Biology 16: Plants 1

Terms	Definitions
dermal tissue	The protective covering of plants; generally a single layer of tightly packed epidermal cells covering young plant organs formed by primary growth.
ground tissue	tissue between the dermal tissue and vascular tissue of a non-woody plant that functions in photosynthesis, storage, and support
epidermis	outer layer of skin
root hair	A tiny extension of a root epidermal cell, growing just behind the root tip and increasing surface area for absorption of water and minerals.
vascular bundle	clusters of xylem and phloem tissue in stems and leaves of plants
stoma	pl. stomata; a minute epidermal pore in a leaf or stem through which gases and water vapor can pass
xylem	Vascular plant tissue consisting mainly of tubular dead cells that conduct most of the water and minerals upward from roots to the rest of the plant.
phloem	tissue that conducts synthesized food substances such as sugar (e.g., from leaves) to parts where needed
transpiration	the emission of water vapor from the leaves of plants
adventitious root	root growing in an unusual location e.g. from a stem
angiosperm	A flowering plant, which forms seeds inside a protective chamber called an ovary.
gymnosperm	seed plant that bears its seeds directly on the surfaces of cones
pollination	transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of a plant
anther	The terminal pollen sac of a stamen, inside which pollen grains with male gametes form in the flower of an angiosperm.
pistil	the female ovule-bearing part of a flower composed of ovary and style and stigma
stamen	The pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of an anther and a filament.