plants

taproot

thick primary roots; grow deep into soil

fibrous roots

many thin roots branching off and replacing primary root; shallow

primary growth

growth in length; produced by apical and intercalary meristems

secondary growth

growth in diameter; produced by the lateral meristems

vascular cambium

tissue that produces vascular tissue and increases the thickness of cells over time

cork cambium

tissue that produces the outer covering of stems

monocot stems

stem in which vascular bundles are scattered throughout the ground tissue

dicot stems

stem in which vascular tissues appear as a single ring of bundles between the cortex and the pith

cuticle

a waxy, protective covering on plant surfaces that prevents water loss

transpiration

the loss of water through leaves

guard cells

cells that surround the stomata and control their opening and closing

adhesion

attraction between unlike molecules

capillary action

the tendency of water to rise in a thin tube

cohesion

an attractive force that holds molecules of a single substance together

stoma

small opening in the epidermis

anther

structure in which male gametophytes are produced

pistil

a single carpel or several fused carpels

stamen

male parts of a flower

stigma

the sticky area at the top of the style where pollen grains often land

filament

stalklike; supports an anther; innermost whorl contains female reproductive structures (carpels)

ovary

the female part of the flower that encloses the egg(s)