Ferns & Gymnosperms

Lycophytes - Small seedless vascular plants
                - Leaves are adapted for reproduction

Spores - A simple structure in fungi and primitive plants, produced either sexually or asexually, and consisting of one or a few cells with the capacity to give rise to a new plant, e.g. a seed, a spore,                    or a part of the vegetative body capable of independent growth if detached from the parent.

Sporangia - A structure within which spores are formed.

Sorus (pl. sori) - structure made of clusters of sporangia

Vascular tissue - tissues that transport materials form one part of a plant to another

Xylem - tissue of tubular cells that transport H2O upward from roots to leaves

Phloem - tissue of tubular cells that transport CHO's from leaves to all parts of the plant

Rhizome - A horizontal underground stem which can send out both shoots and roots; rhizomes sometimes have thickened areas that store starch.

Fronds - fern leaves

Gymnosperms - vascular plants that produce cones

Cones - seeds on the scales of woody strobili produced by gymnosperms

Microspores - produced in the male cone and give rise to the male gametophyte, eventually developing into the pollen grains

Megaspores - produced in the female cone and give rise to the female gametophyte; contained within the ovule and eventually develop into archegonia with egg cells

Embryo – an organism at an early stage of development (in eutero-)

Cotyledons – food storage organ of a plant embryo

Pollen grain – produces sperm cells; male cones;

Ovule - produces megaspore (egg) cell; female cones

Evergreen Plants – retains leaves; stays green; conifers

Deciduous plants – lose their leaves; change colors

Tracheids – thick-walled, non-living cells that make up wood; xylem

Conifers – evergreens; cone bearers