Biology Notes: Organs of Flowering Plants - Prof. Steve Pollock, Study notes of Biology

Download Biology Notes: Organs of Flowering Plants - Prof. Steve Pollock and more Study notes Biology in PDF only on Docsity! Biology notes 10/19/11  Organs of flowering plants o Root hairs are extensions of epidermal cells o Root hairs dramatically increase a root’s surface area for absorbing water and nutrients o Food storage is a function of all roots, but some are highly modified for storage o Aboveground (aerial or prop) roots give extra support o Breathing roots conduct oxygen to waterlogged roots o The roots of many orchids are photosynthetic o STEMS:  Support branches, flowers (which become fruits), leaves, etc.  Some plants have specialized water-storage stems  Stolons (“Runners”) are horizontal, wandering, above ground stems  Rhizomes (eg. Edible base of a ginger plant) are horizontal, belowground stems  Tubers (eg. Potatoes, yams) are the swollen ends of rhizomes, specialized for food storage  Bulbs are vertical, underground stems consisting mostly of the swollen bases of leaves specialized to store food  Tendrils are specialized branches that twist around structures to lend support  Thorns are rigid, sharp, brances that deter potential herbivores (especially mammalian browsers) o BUDS:  Terminal buds generally exercise apical dominance over axillary buds  Some arid-adapted plants have succulent leaves  Leaves specialized into spines help defend against herbivores  Leaves specialized to trap animals occur in carnivorous plants 