Derived Traits
Unlike true roots, these filamentous structures anchor bryophytes to the substrate and absorb moisture rather than actively transporting minerals.
What are rhizoids?
These seed plants produce "naked seeds" and lack true flowers or fruits.
What are gymnosperms?
This waxy, non-cellular protective layer is secreted by the epidermis to reduce water loss, though it restricts CO2 diffusion.
What is the cuticle?
This vascular tissue transports water and dissolved minerals upward from roots to shoots using negative pressure.
What is xylem?
This key hormone stimulates plant cell elongation on the shaded side of a shoot, driving phototropism.
What is auxin?
Name two of the five key derived traits that appear in nearly all land plants but are completely absent in charophytes.
What are any two of: alternation of generations, multicellular gametangia, multicellular dependent embryos, walled spores in sporangia, or apical meristems?
According to this hypothesis, seeds that disperse farther away from the parent plant have a significantly higher chance of survival.
What is the Janzen-Connell hypothesis?
This is the most common photosynthetic pathway used by about 85% of plant species.
What is C3 photosynthesis?
This organic polymer is secreted by xylem cells to provide structural support before the cells die at maturity, leaving hollow, rigid walls.
What is lignin?
This hormone suppresses axillary bud growth (decreasing branching) and its production is stimulated by auxin.
What is strigolactone?
This reproductive cycle is a defining derived trait where a multicellular haploid stage alternates with a multicellular diploid stage.
What is alternation of generations?
Angiosperms typically have higher leaf vein densities, allowing them to transport and use these two resources more efficiently for photosynthesis than gymnosperms.
What are water and CO2?
When soil water supply cannot keep up with leaf evaporation, guard cells undergo this cellular change, causing them to lose turgor and close the stoma.
What is they shrink (dehydrate)?
Unlike xylem which only moves upward, phloem sap transport can go in either of these two directions depending on where they are relative to each other.
What is up or down (from source to sink)?
These meristems are responsible for secondary growth, increasing the width of vascular plants and producing wood.
What are lateral meristems?