Structures and Functions of Living Organisms

Essential Vocabulary

6.L.1 Understand the structures, processes and behaviors of plants that enable them to survive and reproduce.

6.L.1 Understand the structures, processes and behaviors of plants that enable them to survive and reproduce.

petals, stem, sepal, stamen, anther, ovule, pistil, filament, style, sexual reproduction, fertilization, pollination, sterile, pollen, pollinator, ovary, egg cell, sperm, photosynthesis, respiration, chlorophyll, glucose, epidermis, stomata, transpiration, carbon dioxide, oxygen, guard cells, vascular plants, nonvascular plants, xylem, phloem, aroma, nectar, mimicry, camouflage, perfect flower, imperfect flower, root, pigment, chloroplasts

Petals

One of the ring or rings of the usually brightly colored, leaf-shaped parts of a flower.

Stem

The main body or stalk of a plant or shrub.

Sepal

In a flower, one of the outermost rings of modified leaves that protect the flower bud.

Stamen

Male reproductive organ inside the flower of an angiosperm; consists of an anther, where pollen grains form, and a filament.

Anther

A saclike structure that produces pollen.

Ovule

In seed plants, the female reproductive part that produces eggs.

Pistil

Female reproductive organ inside the flower of an angiosperm; consists of a sticky stigma, where pollen grains land, and an ovary. Also, called carpel.

Filament

The slender part of a stamen that supports the anther.

Style

A narrow, typically elongated extension of the ovary, bearing the stigma.

Sexual Reproduction

A process that creates a new organism by combining the genetic material of two organisms.

Fertilization

Sexual union of two plants.

Pollination

Transfer of pollen grains to the female part of a seed plant by agents such as gravity, water, wind, and animals.

Sterile

Not able to produce fruit or seeds.

Pollen

A fine powdery substance, typically yellow, consisting of microscopic grains discharged from the male part of a flower or from a male cone.

Pollinator

Something that moves pollen from the male parts to the female parts.

Ovary

Swollen base of the pistil where ovules are found.

Egg Cell

The female reproductive cell; the female gamete

Sperm

The male reproductive cell; the male gamete

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants makes food.

Respiration

The process where cells use oxygen to help generate their energy. Also called cellular respiration.

Chlorophyll

A pigment, or green coloring matter, that helps plants use light energy to produce sugars.

Glucose

Plant starch or food; A type of sugar; the chief source of energy for living organisms. A simple six-carbon sugar C6H12O6.

Epidermis

A single-layered group of cells that covers plants leaves, flowers, roots and stems.

Stomata

Tiny openings on the underside of a leaf that allow water and carbon dioxide to enter and leave the plant.

Transpiration

Process through which evaporation occurs through the leaves of a plant.

Carbon Dioxide

Waste gas eliminated by the lungs

Oxygen

A gas that exists naturally in the atmosphere and is produced by plants during photosynthesis that humans and other animals breathe.

Guard Cells

Specialized crescent-shaped cells that control the opening and closing of a stomata.

Vascular Plants

Plants that have tubes.

Nonvascular Plants

Plants that do not have tubes.

Xylem

The tubes (or vascular tissue) that transport water and minerals upwards from a plant's roots in vascular plants.

Phloem

The tubes (or vascular tissues) that transport food in the vascular plants downward from the leaves to the rest of the plants.

Aroma

A scent used by plants to attract pollinators for reproduction.

Nectar

A sugary fluid secreted by plants, esp. within flowers to encourage pollination by insects and other animals. It is collected by bees to make into honey.

Mimicry

Camouflage

To hide or disguise the presence of a person, animal, or object.

Perfect Flower

A flower that has both male and female parts.

Imperfect Flower

A flower that is missing either male or female parts.

Root

The part of a plant that attaches it to the ground or to a support, typically underground, conveying water and nourishment to the rest of the plant via numerous branches and fibers.

Pigment

A substance that reflects a particular part of the visible spectrum and absorbs the rest.

Chloroplasts

A plastid that contains chlorophyll and in which photosynthesis takes place.

The End!!!