Plants Glossary
Anther part of the male reproductive organ of a plant (stamen) that produces and releases pollen
Carpel female reproductive organ in plants; consists of the stigma, style and ovary
Chlorophyll green pigment inside chloroplasts that traps sunlight and makes the energy from sunlight available for chemical reactions
Chloroplast organelle in plant cells in which photosynthesis occurs
Cotyledon embryonic leave within a seed
Evaporation loss of water from the leaves of a plant
Fertilisation fusion of the nuclei of the male and female gametes
Filament long part of the stamen that holds up the anther
Flower part of a plant that contains either one or both reproductive organs
Fruit what the ovary becomes after fertilisation; could be fleshy and edible or hard and woody
Germination when the young shoot and root break out of the seed to produce a plant embryo
Guard cell the cells in the lower epidermis of a leaf or stem, on either side of the stoma which control its size
Nectary the part of a flower that makes nectar
Osmosis the process by which water and nutrients enter the roots of a plant
Ovary part of the female sex organ in plants that produces ovules and protects them after fertilisation
Palisade cells just below the upper surface of most leaves, that contain many chloroplasts and stand at right angles to the leaf surface
Petal brightly coloured (usually) parts of a flower that attract birds and bees (to help with pollination)
Phloem small tubes which carry food to all plant cells
Photosynthesis process by which plants make food and oxygen from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide
Pollination the process of moving pollen from an anther to the stigma
Sepal found at the base of a flower; protects the bud as it grows
Stamen male reproductive organ in plants
Stigma sticky part of the female reproductive organ in plants
Stomata small holes in the leaf surface (usually the bottom)
Style long tube under the stigma in flowers
Testa seed coat
Transpiration loss of water from the leaves of a plant
Vein tubes that carry water to all parts of the leaf
Xylem small tubes which carry water and mineral salts up stems, roots and leaves
Carpel female reproductive organ in plants; consists of the stigma, style and ovary
Chlorophyll green pigment inside chloroplasts that traps sunlight and makes the energy from sunlight available for chemical reactions
Chloroplast organelle in plant cells in which photosynthesis occurs
Cotyledon embryonic leave within a seed
Evaporation loss of water from the leaves of a plant
Fertilisation fusion of the nuclei of the male and female gametes
Filament long part of the stamen that holds up the anther
Flower part of a plant that contains either one or both reproductive organs
Fruit what the ovary becomes after fertilisation; could be fleshy and edible or hard and woody
Germination when the young shoot and root break out of the seed to produce a plant embryo
Guard cell the cells in the lower epidermis of a leaf or stem, on either side of the stoma which control its size
Nectary the part of a flower that makes nectar
Osmosis the process by which water and nutrients enter the roots of a plant
Ovary part of the female sex organ in plants that produces ovules and protects them after fertilisation
Palisade cells just below the upper surface of most leaves, that contain many chloroplasts and stand at right angles to the leaf surface
Petal brightly coloured (usually) parts of a flower that attract birds and bees (to help with pollination)
Phloem small tubes which carry food to all plant cells
Photosynthesis process by which plants make food and oxygen from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide
Pollination the process of moving pollen from an anther to the stigma
Sepal found at the base of a flower; protects the bud as it grows
Stamen male reproductive organ in plants
Stigma sticky part of the female reproductive organ in plants
Stomata small holes in the leaf surface (usually the bottom)
Style long tube under the stigma in flowers
Testa seed coat
Transpiration loss of water from the leaves of a plant
Vein tubes that carry water to all parts of the leaf
Xylem small tubes which carry water and mineral salts up stems, roots and leaves