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PLANT KINGDOM

Q1. What is the general terms for the study of plants and it comprises mainly of?
BOTANY - Its main composition is:
1) PLANT ANATOMY - Study of plant structure.
2) PALEO BOTANY - Study of plants evolution.
3) PLANT PHYSIOLOGY - Study of plants process of making food.
4) PLANT PATHOLOGY - Study of plant diseases.
Q2. What are Plants?
Multicellular living organisms that grow on land and in water excepting the cold regions of Arctic and Antarctica.
Q3. What are Terrestrial Plants?
Plants that grow on soil.
Q4. How the plants that grow on water are called?
Hydrophytes.
Q5. What are EPIPHYTES?
Plants which perch on other plants but do not take nourishment from them. They are not rooted to the soil but grow upon branches and stems of other plants. Eg: Urn plant.
Q6. What are MESOPHYTES?
Plants that thrive under intermediate conditions (i.e. between very dry and very wet).Eg: Beans, Tomatoes, Peas etc.
Q7. What are PARASYTIC plants?
Plants which depends on other plants for their nourishment, because they lack chlorophyll and cannot make their own food. Eg: Bacteria and Fungi.
Q8. What are CARNIVOROUS plants?
Also called insectivorous plants. They traps small insects and creatures which stick to the leaves from which the plants get their nutrition for growth. Eg: Pitcher Plant, Bladderwort.
Q9. How the plants are Botanically classified?

(1) RODOPYTA: RED ALGAE. Multicellular marine plants (about 2,500 species) from simple plants to large plants of 10 ft in length. A complex reproductive system. They are normally reddish in colour due to a pigment called "PHYCAERYTHRIN". Reproduction process is complex.
(2) PHAEOPHYTA: BROWN ALGAE. Multicellular marine plants growing on rocks or attached to sea shores, from few millimeters to massive length of 200 ft. They are brownish in colour due to the produce of xanthophylls pigment called "FACOXANTHIN".
3) CHLORPHYTA: GREEN ALGAE. Are a group of bright green (about 3700 species) mostly aquatic plant, unicellular, colonial and multicellular. Reproduction is both sexual and asexual. Found in abundance in fresh and sea water, tree trunks, moist surfaces, leaf surfaces and soil.
(4) BRYOPHYTA: Simple, nonvascular small plants grow in moist places. The plant body is phallus like and remains attached to the soil by rhizoids. They lack roots, flowers and seeds. Reproduction is mainly through vegetative means or sexual. Eg. Liver worms, Horn worms, Mosses etc.
(5) LYCOPODOPHYTA (CLUB MOSSES): Multicellular terrestrial plants with vascular tissues. Their body is differentiated into roots, stems and leaves. Stem not jointed; spores are produced in the axis of fertile leaves, mostly aggregated into club like terminal cones.
(6) ARTHOPHYTA: HORSE TAILS. Multicellular plants with vascular tissues. The body is divided into root, stem and small whorled leaves. They have upright stems which grow from underground branches. Arthophyta are largely an extinct group represented by a single living germs, the EQUISETUM (the horsetails).
(7) PTEROPHYTA: FERNS. Are Multicellular plants with vascular tissues (without vessels). Body is divided into root, stem and leaves.
(8) CYCADOPHYTA: Multicellular terrestrial plants with vascular tissues (without vessels). The plant body is divided into root, stem and leaves. The stem is large and woody, leaves are large and fem-like. Eg: Cycas (Sago Palm), Zamia (Sago tree), etc.
(9) CONIFEROPHYTA (CONIFERS): Multicellular plants with well developed tissues. The main plant body is large and woody, leaves are simple, smaller than cycadophyta and are needle like. Eg: Cedrus (Deodar) and Taxus (Yew).
(10) ANTHROPHYTA (Angiosperms): More advanced flowering plants with well developed vascular tissues, predominantly prophetic with a well differentiated body of roots, stem and leaves. They occur in almost places and counts more than 2 lack species. Their sizes vary from minute-floating duckweeds to giant plants like Eucalyptus, Silk Cotton trees, including plants like Cacti, Water lilies, Sunflowers, Orchids, Pitcher plants, etc. The reproductory organ of these plants are flowers, and the seed are enclosed within a ovary which develops into a fruit-wall.
Q10. What are the various Botanical terminologies?

(1) ALGAE: Lowest aquatic plants, green in colour, belong to the Thallophyte group.
(2)ANAPHASE: The stage in cell division in which chromatids or chromosomes move towards opposite poles. It begins with the splitting of the sister chromatids. They separate at their dislike centromeres and are pulled apart lay the contracting action of the spindle.
(3)ANNUAL RINGS: Concentric rings seen in a cross section of a tree trunk each representing the age of the plant.
(4)ANNULUS: A ring like structure present on the stalk of a mushroom showing the remnant of the velum.
(5)ANTHRIDIUM: Male sperms bearing organ of lower plant such as ferns, algae and mosses.
(6)AQUATIC PLANTS: Also called Hydrophytes. Plants that grow in water.
(7)ARCHEGONIUM: Female egg bearing organ of lower plants like ferns, mosses etc.
(8)BARK: Outermost corny sheath of trees and shrubs.
(9)BASIDIA: The club shaped cells in the gills of mushrooms and other fungi.
(10)BASIDIOSCARP: The fruity body of the mushroom and fungi.
(11)BIENNIAL: Plants which complete their life cycle in two years.(General term used elsewhere also)
(12)BLIGHT: Any of the plant diseases that result in sudden dying of leaves, growing tips, or an entire plant.
(13)BUD: An outgrowth on a stem or branch often enclosed in protective scales, comprising a shortened stem and immature leaves or floral parts; a partially opened immature flower.
(14)BULB: A disc shaped condensed underground stem with fleshy leaves. Eg: Onion or turnip, usually surrounded by scale like modified leaves and contains stored food for the undeveloped shoots of the new plant enclosed within it.
(15)CACTUS: Desert plants most of which lack leaves to minimize water loss. They are characterized by thick, fleshy often prickly stems that functions as leaves. (16)CALLUS: Thick layer of scar tissue which forms over a wounded area of stems or trunk to protect the inner tissues from exposure.
(17)CALYX: Protective portion of a flower consisting of sepals.
(18)CAMBIUM: A layer of cells in between xylem and phloem which increases the growth of the plant.
(19)CELLULOSE: A kind of carbohydrate, the main component of the cell wall of a plant.
(20)CHLOROPHYLL: The green pigment found in all plants capable of photosynthesis. The molecules of chlorophyll absorb energy from sunlight and make it available for the synthesis of organic material.
(21)CHLOROPLAST: Coloured plastids containing pigments other than chlorophyll. They give colour to flowers and fruits.
(22)CHLORESIS: Disorder which affects a plant's ability to form chlorophyll.
(23)CLADOPHYLL: Modified flattened stem which functions and resembles a leaf. Also called "Cladode" and "Phylloclade".
(24)CITRUS FRUIT: Fruit of the citrus (Vitamin C) group like orange, lemon etc.
(25)COENNOCOETI/COENOCYTE: The protoplast or cell containing many nuclei. It is found in many fungi and some green algae.
(26)CORM: A swell on underground stem having buds. It is responsible for vegetative growth.
(27)COTYLEDON: An embryonic leaf in a seed which usually stores food matters.
(28)CRYPTOGAM: Non flowering seedless plant which produces spores. Eg: Algae, Mosses, Fungi and Ferns.
(29)CUTICLE: Non cellular waxy layer found on the surface of stems and leaves to prevent water loss.
(30)DECIDUOUS: Plants which shed leaves to eliminate water loss. In tropical regions it is in the hot summer and in temperate areas it is winter, when such plants shed leaves.
(31)DECUMBENT STEM: A creeping stem in which tips turn upward at or near the apex.
(32)DICOTYLEDONS: Plants whose seeds contain two cotyledons. Eg. grams.
(33)DICHOTOMOUS BRANCHING: A kind of branching in which the main branch or axis stops growing when lateral branches appear on it.
(34)DYCTYOSOME: Plant cell organelles which are formed of small bag like folds of membrane and vesicles that contain membrane cell.
(35)ENDOCARP: Innermost often hard or leathery layer of the fruit wall.
(36)ENDODERMIS: Innermost layer of cortex surrounding vascular bundles, found in all roots and stem of certain plants which controls passage of water. (37)ENDOSPERMS: The nutritive tissue surrounding and absorbed by the embryo in flowering plants.
(38)EPIPHYTE: Plants whose roots grow upon stems or branches of other plants.
(39)EXOCARP: Outermost layer of the fruit wall which forms the skin in many fleshy fruit.
(40)FERNS: A large group of primitive plants of the plants kingdom which grow in moist shady floors in tropical and sub tropical climates.
(41)FOSSILS: Remains of an organism preserved in rocks.
(42)FUNGUS: A non flowering plant which lacks chlorophyll and cannot manufacture it's own food and therefore depends entirely on either living or dead organic substances.
(43)GEMMA: A small cup shaped organ of vegetative reproduction in bryophytes.
(44)GERMINATION: Initiation of growth in plant spores or seeds.
(45)GRANA: A stack of membranes found in chloroplast containing chlorophyll.
(46)GYMNOSPERM: Any plant of the class of Gymnospermae, which includes coniferous trees and other plants having seeds not enclosed within an ovary. (47)HAUSTORIA: Specialized organ by which parasitic plants such as fungi obtain food from a host plant.
(48)HERBS: Any tiny plant that lacks woody stems above the ground.
(49)HILIUM: The point at which the seed is attached to the fruit.
(50)HYMENIUM: The outer layer of gill bearing spores in mushrooms or the spore bearing layer of the fruiting body of certain fungi.
(51)HYBRID: The plant produced by crossing plants belonging to different species or genera, also plants and animals that are breed from genetically different plants.
(52)HYPOCOTYL: Plants of the stem of a young seedling that was lies between the cotyledons.
(53)ISOBILATERAL LEAVES: The monocot leaves having similar structure on both sides.
(54)LEUCOPLAST: Colourless plastids, in the cytoplasm of plant cell around which starch collects.
(55)LIGNIN: Complex organic compound found in the cell wall of the plants which gives strength, particularly in parts of xylem tissue. Lignins forms upto 50% wood in trees.
(56)LIVER WORTS: Groups of primitive spore-bearing plants which together with mosses comprise the group bryophyta.
(57)MATRIX: Non cellular ground substance of tissue.
(58)MERISTEM TISSUE: Mitotically active cells commonly found at the apex of shoot and root or branch.
(59)MESOCARP: Middle layer of fruit which becomes fleshy sometimes.
(60)MESOPHYLL: Soft tissue of a leaf in between the upper and lower epidermis that contains the chloroplasts and is involved in photosynthesis. (61)MICROSPOROPHYLL: Structure in ferns that learns the microsporangia.
(62)PARTHENOCARPY: The process through which development of fruit takes place without fertilization.
(63)PEDICELL: The stalk of a flower which serves as a support.
(64)PEDUNCLE: The axis on which flowers are borne in inflorescence.
(65)PERICARP: The casing of the seed or seeds within a fruit, developed from the ovary wall.
(66)PILEUS: Cap like part of mushroom or any other fungus.
(67)PINNA: A small leaflet of a compound leaf.
(68)PHLOEM: A complex tissue found in plants which conducts food.
(69)PROTHALLUS: Gametophyte of fern which has sex organs.
(70)PROTONEMA: The young gametophyte of bryophyte which develops following spore germination.
(71)RACHIC: The axis of a fern leaf from which the pinna originates.
(72)RHIZOID: A hair like short growth found in lower plants which fixes the plant to the soil and also helps it derive nourishment from the soil.
(73)RHIZOME: Underground stem.
(74)ROT: The breakdown or decomposition of plant tissue usually caused by bacteria or fungi or sometimes due to drought.
(75)RUST: Parasitic fungus which infects a number of plants causing red and black spots on leaves and stem, a disease caused by fungi.
(76)SAP: Watery fluid found in plant tissue and cells. It is transported throughout the plant by the vascular tissues or conducting tissues - xylem and phloem. (77)SAPROPHYTE: The plant which grows and obtains food from dead organic matter like bacteria or fungus, which lacks chlrophyll and therefore cannot manufacture its own food.
(78)SEEDLING: A stage in the life of a plant which begins with germination and ends with the emergence of the first true leaves. A protective leaf like part of a flower. (79)SHRUB: Any plant with several woody stems which grow from a point near or below ground level.
(80)SPERMATOPHYTE: Seed bearing plants which include both angiosperms and gymnosperms.
(81)SORUS: A reproductive structure found in ferns containing sporangia which are found on the placenta.
(82)SPINE: A leaf modified into the pointed thorn like structure.
(83)SPORE: Microscope reproductive body of plants which is the chief means of reproduction among ferns, mosses, fungi and other lower plants. (84)SPOROPHYTE: Spore-bearing generation in the life cycle of plants in which each cell has a nucleus with two sets of chromosomes and which can produce reproductive spores with only one set of chromosomes by reduction divisions (MEOISIS).
(85)STAMEN: Male reproductive part of a flower which produces male sex comprising stalk plus head with pollen sacs that burst to release pollen grains. (86)STIGMA: Receptive surface area of the carpel or female reproductive organ of a flower. It is the sticky surface in flower on which pollen grains are stimulated to start their own growth.
(87)STIPE: Stalk of mushroom.
(88)TENDRIL: Modified thread like stem or leaf designed to cling to a support.
(89)TEPALS: Collective term applied to petals and sepals.
(90)THALLUS: A plant body not differentiated into root, stem and leaves. Eg: in some algae, bryophyte and fungi.
(91)TRANSPIRATION: Evaporation of water from stem and leaves of a plant.
(92)TROPISM: Movement of a plant in response to a particular external stimulus such as gravity or light. It is a change in some position of some part of plant in relation to rest of the body which remains fixed.
(93)TUBER: Swollen underground stem or root which serves as a storage organ. Eg: Potato (stem tuber) and Dahlia (root tuber).
(94)VASCULAR TISSUE: Term used to describe xylem and phloem.
(95)VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION: Any type of reproduction which does not involve the formation of spores or seeds. Eg: Reproduction in Bacteria, Algae, Fungi, etc. (96)VELUM: A covering of hyphae on the young fruiting body of mushroom.
(97)VERNATION: Arrangement and folding of leaves in a bud.
(98)XEROPHYTE: Plant adopted to survive long periods without moisture. Eg: Cacti.
(99)XYLEM: Complex tissue which conducts water and mineral salts upwards in plants.
Q11. What is a Root and what are the different type of roots and their functions?

ROOT: It is the descending and positively geotropic part of the plant, which develops from the radical or the primary root. It anchors the plant to the soil and absorbs water and minerals and salts from the soil.
TYPES OF ROOTS:
STORAGE ROOTS: Stores food material. Eg: Carrot, Radish, Turnip, Sweet Potato.
AERIAL ROOTS: Are aerial nodes that develop from the stem and go into the soil. Eg: Still roots of sugarcane, maize, prop roots of banyan tree which provide reinforcement to the stout branches.
PARASITIC ROOT: Arise from stem and penetrate into the host plant. They are called "Haustoria" Eg: Cuscuta.
RESPIRATORY ROOTS: They have pores and are founding plants that thrive in swamps. Eg.Rhizopora.
ASSIMILATORY ROOTS: Contain chlorophyll and perform the function of carbon assimilation. Eg.Trapa roots.
EPIPHYTIC ROOTS: Are aerial roots which absorb moisture from air. Eg: Vauda roots.
Q12. What is a stem of a plant?
The ascending and negatively geotropic of the plant. It bears nodes and internodes and supports leaves, flowers and fruit.
Q13. What are the various stem parts and their functions?

RHIZOMES: Underground modification of the stem. They bear nodes and store food material. Eg: Ginger, Grass, Canna.
TUBER: Are swollen tips of underground branches that store food. Eg: Potato.
CORM: Underground stem which bears leaves. Eg: Saffron, Gladiolus.
BULB: A modified underground stem in the form of a disc like structure that bears fleshy leaves that store food material. Eg: Onion and Lillies.
CLADOPHYLL: A modification of the stem into a large, flat green and fleshy structure that bears leaves into spines. Such stems carry out the function of leaves. Eg: Cactus.
TENDRILL: An aerial modification of the stem where the stem becomes a long, slender, coiling structure serving as an organ of attachment for certain climbing plants. It helps the plant to climb up the support, such as grapes and cucurbits.
Q14. What are flowers and their functions?
Flowers are the reproductive organs of the angiosperms. It generally consist of, sepals, petals, stamens and pistils. After pollination and fertilization, the ovary of the pistil develops into fruit and the ovule into seeds. The ripened ovary becomes a fruit which generally contains seeds.
Q15. How a group or cluster of flowers are called?
Peduncle.
Q16. What is "Inflorescence" related to flowers?
The arrangement of flowers on the peduncle.
Q17. What are leaves and their functions?
A generally green coloured, of different shape and sizes, which produces the necessary nutrition (food) for the plant through the photosynthesis process.
Q18. What is "Photosynthesis"? How the process works?
It is the process by which the green plants are able to initiate energy of sunlight in order to convert water and carbon dioxide into food in the form of simple carbohydrates. The energy from sunlight is trapped in plant cells by chloroplasts which are passed with chlorophyll. Incoming sunlight generates tiny electric currents in them. These currents convert ADP (adenosine diphosphate) into ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and split water molecules in the cells into Oxygen and hydrogen-paving the way for the whole complex process of photosynthesis. Thus oxygen combines with carbon dioxide to become glucose, one of the main fuels used by living organisms.
Q19. What gives the plants and the leaves the green colour?
Chlorophyll.
Q20. What is the main fuels used by the living organisms?
Glucose.
Q21. How the fertilization process in plants are called and how it works?
The process is called "Pollination". The pollen grains are transferred to the egg bearing organism by wind or insects. On falling on a stigma and sends a pollen tube containing a reproductive cell down through the style and into an ovule where the male cell fuses with an egg cell which can develop into an embryo plant.
Q22. What is transpiration in plants and how it helps the plants?
Evaporation of water from the stem and leaves of plants. It serves the purpose of cooling the leaves on hot days and protects delicate leaf tissue from drying. It draws water up from the roots towards the leaves which give out excess water into the atmosphere.
Q23. How the plants are classified on the basis of morphology?
(i) Herbs, (ii) Shrubs, and (iii) Trees.
Q24. On the basis of age, how the plants are classified?
PERENNIALS: Which live for many years.
ANNUALS: Which produce flowers and fruit in the course of a single season.
BIENNIALS: Which lives for two seasons.
Q25. What are the two major classifications of Angiosperms, the largest family of plants?
DICOTYLEDONS: These plants have two cotyledons in their seeds and may be annuals, biennials or perennials. Eg: Grams. MONOCOTYLEDONS: These are mostly annuals and have only one cotyledons in their seeds.