PLANT MORPHOLOGY:

Vegetative & Reproductive

Study of form, shape or structure of a
plant and its parts
 Vegetative vs. reproductive morphology

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peanut_plant_NSRW.jpg
 Vegetative morphology

http://faculty.baruch.cuny.edu/jwahlert/bio1003/images/anthophyta/peanut_cotyledon.jpg

Seed = starting point of plant after fertilization;

a young plant in which development is arrested and the plant is dormant.

Monocotyledon vs. dicotyledon

cotyledon = leaf developed at 1st node of embryo (seed leaf).
 “Textbook” plant

http://bio1903.nicerweb.com/Locked/media/ch35/35_02AngiospermStructure.jpg
Stem variation
 Stem variation

http://www2.mcdaniel.edu/Biology/botf99/stems&leaves/barrel.jpg
http://www.puc.edu/Faculty/Gilbert_Muth/art0042.jpg

http://www2.mcdaniel.edu/Biology/botf99/stems&leaves/xstawb.gif http://biology.uwsp.edu/courses/botlab/images/1854$.jpg
Vegetative morphology
Leaf variation
Leaf variation
Leaf variation
 Vegetative morphology

If the primary root persists, it is called a

“true root” and may take the following
forms:
taproot = single main root (descends
vertically) with small lateral roots.
fibrous roots = many divided roots of +/-
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/nursery-weeds/weedspeciespage/OXALIS/oxalis_taproot.jpg
equal size & thickness.

adventitious roots = roots that originate

from stem (or leaf tissue) rather than from
the true root.
All roots on monocots are adventitious.
(e.g., corn and other grasses).

http://plant-disease.ippc.orst.edu/plant_images/StrawberryRootLesion.JPG
Root variation

http://bio1903.nicerweb.com/Locked/media/ch35/35_04RootDiversity.jpg
Flower variation

http://130.54.82.4/members/Okuyama/yudai_e.htm
Reproductive morphology: flower

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Flower parts

pedicel

receptacle

sepals
petals

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 Flower parts

Pedicel = (Latin: ped “foot”) stalk of a flower.

Receptacle = end of stem on which flower is borne.
Sepals = outer whorl of parts, often greenish bracts (leaves).
Calyx = collective term for sepals of one flower (Greek: kalux “to cover”).
Petals = second whorl of parts, often colorful and showy.
Corolla = collective term for petals of one flower (Latin: “crown”).
Perianth = collective term for calyx and petals
(Greek: peri “around,” anth “flower”).
Tepals = perianth parts that are not differentiated into sepals and petals.

tepals
sepal

petal

Yuan Yaowu
http://www.freefoto.com/images/12/61/12_61_52---Tulip_web.jpg
 Corolla

Yuan Yaowu Yuan Yaowu

Polypetalous = petals separate Gamopetalous (sympetalous) =

petals fused

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Actinomorphic/ radially Zygomorphic/ bilaterally

symmetric/ regular = symmetric/ irregular =
multiple planes of symmetry a single plane of symmetry
 Reproductive flower parts

Note: in this flower, the pistil is compound, consisting of five fused carpels.

stigma

pistil style

ovary

anther
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filament
Stamen
 Reproductive flower parts

Stamen = pollen producing structure; consists of filament and anther; ‘male’

function in reproduction.
Androecium = collective term for stamens.
(Greek: andro “male”, oikos “house”)
Carpel = ovule producing structure; consists of ovary, style, and stigma; ‘female’
function in reproduction.
(Greek: karpos “fruit”)
Flowers may have a single carpel or many carpels; the carpels may be separate or
fused together.
Pistil = generalized term for each individual female structure in a flower; pistils are
made of carpels!
When single or separate, each carpel equals one pistil – simple pistil
When fused together, one pistil may consist of many carpels - compound pistil
(Note: see Figs. 4.19 and 4.20 in your textbook).
Gynoecium - collective term for pistils.
(Greek: gyno “female”, oikos “house”)
Carpel vs. Pistil
 Ovary position

Superior ovary = ovary above the point of attachment of the other flower parts.
Flowers are thus hypogynous = with perianth and stamens arising from below the
ovary.

Inferior ovary = ovary is beneath the point of attachment of the other flower parts.
Flowers are thus epigynous = with perianth and stamens arising above the ovary.

1/2-inferior ovary = floral parts attach midway on the ovary such that it is partly
superior and partly inferior.

Hypanthium = flat, cuplike, or tubular structure on which the sepals, petals, and
stamens are borne; usually formed from the fused bases of the perianth parts and
stamens or from a modified receptacle.

Flowers are thus perigynous = with perianth parts and stamens borne on a
hypanthium that is distinct from the ovary.
(note: different from Reproductive Morphology worksheet…use this definition!)
 Ovary position quiz
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hypanthium
Textbook DVD KRR & DLN

Textbook DVD KRR & DLN

Textbook DVD KRR & DLN

hypanthium
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Textbook DVD KRR & DLN
 Ovary parts
Textbook DVD KRR & DLN

Ovule =
the egg-producing structure.

Placenta (pl. placentae) =

tissue inside the ovary to
which the ovules attach.
placenta
Placentation =
attachment of ovules within
the ovary.
ovule
 Placentation types
septum

locule

basal
free-central free-central
Parietal placentation = ovules attach to the wall of the ovary.
Axile placentation = ovules attach to the central axis of the ovary with two or more locules.
Free-central placentation = ovules attach to a freestanding column or central axis in the
middle of a unilocular ovary.
Basal placentation = ovules attach at the base of the ovary.
 Placentation quiz
Textbook DVD KRR & DLN Textbook DVD KRR & DLN

Textbook DVD KRR & DLN Textbook DVD KRR & DLN
 Placentation quiz
Textbook DVD KRR & DLN

http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/80/66/23466680.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~suzyq9/MarioQBellOpenCompare.jpg
 Fusion of flower parts

connate = parts of one whorl fused to each other; fusion of LIKE parts.
(e.g., gamopetalous corolla - petals fused together)

adnate = parts of one whorl fused to parts of another whorl; fusion of UNLIKE
parts from different whorls.
(e.g., epipetalous stamens - stamens adnate to petals.)

Textbook DVD KRR & DLN

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 Flower types

complete = all four whorls present.

incomplete = one or more whorls missing.
perfect = both reproductive whorls present; bisexual.
imperfect = one reproductive whorl missing; unisexual.
monoecious = plants with imperfect (unisexual) flowers, in which both
sexes are on the same plant.
dioecious = plants with imperfect (unisexual) flowers, in which each sex is
on a separate plant.
Textbook DVD KRR & DLN Textbook DVD KRR & DLN
 Inflorescences

Inflorescence = positions and arrangements of flowers on a plant.

Inflorescences
Inflorescences
Inflorescences
 Inflorescence quiz
Textbook DVD KRR & DLN

Will Cook 2010

http://www.freefoto.com/images/12/61/12_61_52---Tulip_web.jpg

Solitary = a single flower formed in the axil of a leaf (solitary axillary flower) or at
the end of a stem (solitary terminal flower).
Raceme = simple, indeterminate inflorescence with a single axis bearing
pedicellate flowers.
Panicle = indeterminate inflorescence with two or more orders of branching, each
axis bearing flowers or higher order axes.
 Inflorescence quiz
Textbook DVD KRR & DLN
Textbook DVD KRR & DLN Textbook DVD KRR & DLN

Spike = simple, indeterminate inflorescence with a single axis bearing sessile

flowers.
Umbel = determinate or indeterminate inflorescence with all flowers on pedicels of
+/- equal length that arise from a single point at the apex of the inflorescence axis.
Spadix = spike with a thickened, fleshy axis.
 Inflorescence quiz
Textbook DVD KRR & DLN

Textbook DVD KMN

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Spikelet = small spike.

Catkin = inflorescence consisting of a dense, elongated mass of inconspicuous,
usually wind-pollinated flowers.
Head or Capitulum = compact determinate or indeterminate inflorescence with a
very short, often disk-like axis and usually sessile flowers.
 Inflorescence quiz

Textbook DVD WSJ

Textbook DVD WSJ

Cyme = determinate, compound inflorescence composed of repeating units of a

pedicel bearing a terminal flower and below it, one or two bracteoles, each
bracteole associated with an axillary flower.
Corymb = raceme with the pedicels of the lowermost flowers elongated,
bringing all flowers to more or less the same level, i.e., a flat-topped raceme.
 Fruit

Fruit = mature ovary;

after the eggs within the ovules are fertilized, the ovary starts to
expand, and becomes a fruit containing seeds.

ANGIOSPERM = vs. GYMNOSPERM =

http://home.comcast.net/~suzyq9/MarioQBellOpenCompare.jpg
 Fruit variation

Bill Ebbesen

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f7/FruitArrangement.jpg http://photos.mongabay.com/07/1107DSC09262.jpg
 You will see many different types of fruits in lab
Fruit summary

Simple fruits (from a single flower)

Dry fruits
Dry, dehiscent fruits (opens)
follicle: 1 carpel splitting along 1 suture
legume: 1 carpel splitting along 2 sutures (Fabaceae only)
silique: 2 carpels (includes the silicle, Brassicaceae only)
capsule: ≥2 carpels opening in various ways

Dry, indehiscent fruits (doesn’t open)

achene: 1-2 carpels containing a single seed, thin wall surrounding
cypsela: 1 carpel (Asteraceae only, i.e. sunflower seeds)
samara: winged achene-like fruit
caryposis: (grain) surrounding wall ± fused to single seed (Poaceae)
nut: ≥2 carpels, single seed, fruit walls are thick, bony
schizocarp: ≥2 carpels, splits into 1-seeded segments

Fleshy fruits
drupe: 1 carpel, 1 seed, outer fruit walls soft, inner wall is hard (i.e. pit)
pome: 5 carpels, inferior ovary (Rosaceae only)
berry: ≥2 carpels, several – many seeded
pepo: berry with thick outer skin (e.g. banana, squash)
hesperidium: berry with thick outer skins and inner sections (e.g.
orange)

Aggregate fruits (from separate carpels of a single flower)

e . g . : strawberry –aggregate of achenes
magnolia fruit –aggregate of follicles
blackberry –aggregate of drupelets

Multiple fruits (fruit is a fusion of fruit from multiple separate flowers)

e . g . : pineapple