Gymnosperms
What does the word "gymnosperm" mean?
"Naked Seeds"
What is the primary distinguishing feature of angiosperms compared to other plant groups, such as gymnosperms?
Angiosperms produce flowers and enclose their seeds within a protective chamber that develops into a fruit, while gymnosperms have "naked" seeds, often in cones.
How many cotyledons (seed leaves) does a monocot seed have?
one
How many cotyledons, or embryonic leaves, does a dicot seed typically have?
Two
What is the definition of an annual plant?
An annual plant is one that completes its entire life cycle, from germination to the production of seeds, within a single growing season and then dies.
Do gymnosperms produce flowers or fruits?
No, gymnosperms do not produce flowers, and their seeds are not enclosed in a fruit. They typically bear their seeds in cones.
What is the unique fertilization process found only in angiosperms?
Double fertilization, where one sperm cell fertilizes the egg to form a diploid zygote (embryo), and another sperm cell fuses with two polar nuclei to form a triploid tissue called the endosperm, which provides food for the developing embryo.
What is the typical pattern of veins found in the leaves of monocot plants?
They have parallel veins.
What is the characteristic vein pattern found in the leaves of dicot plants?
They have branched, or net-like (reticulate), veins
True or False: Some plants we commonly treat as annuals in cooler climates (like tomatoes or peppers) are actually tender perennials in warmer regions.
True. In their native, warmer habitats, plants like tomatoes and peppers can grow all year long, but in colder areas, they are typically grown as summer annuals.
What is the most common and diverse group of gymnosperms today?
Conifers, which include pine, spruce, and fir trees.
What is the main function of a flower's brightly colored petals?
Petals are typically colored to attract pollinators like insects and birds to facilitate pollen transfer.
In what number or multiple do the flower parts (petals, sepals, etc.) of a monocot usually occur?
Multiples of three
In what arrangement are the vascular bundles found within a dicot stem?
They are arranged in a distinct ring
Why do annual plants often have brighter, showier flowers and stronger fragrances compared to some perennials?
Because of their short life cycle, annuals need to attract pollinators quickly to ensure reproduction and seed production within that single season.
How are most gymnosperms pollinated?
They are primarily pollinated by wind, which carries pollen from male cones to female cones.
Angiosperms are divided into two main groups based on the number of seed leaves. What are these two groups?
Monocots (one cotyledon) and dicots (two cotyledons)
What type of root system do monocots typically have?
A fibrous root system.
Dicot flowers typically have their parts (petals, sepals, etc.) in multiples of which numbers?
Multiples of four or five.
What is the scientific name for the common sunflower, which is an example of an annual plant, and what does the second part of its name mean?
The scientific name is Helianthus annuus; "annuus" is a Latin word that means annual, referring to its one-year life cycle.
Which well-known gymnosperm species is often referred to as a "living fossil" because it has existed for millions of years with little change?
The Ginkgo tree
In an angiosperm flower, what specific structure develops into the fruit after fertilization is complete?
The Ovary
Are economically important food plants like corn, rice, and wheat monocots or dicots?
They are all monocots, making monocots arguably the most important plants on Earth economically.
What type of root system do most dicot plants possess?
A taproot system, with one main, central root.
Name two popular annual flowers often used in gardens.
Popular examples include petunias, marigolds, impatiens, and zinnias.