these are lecture notes from semester 1 term 1 of Botany 201. it goes into great detail of the different variations of leaves, stems, flowers, fruits, seeds, the evolution, adaptations, and all there is to know about the appearance of plants and why they are like that.
- Morphological Diversity
- Life Form Diversity
- Taxonomic Diversity
• Morphological Diversity
The plant form, shape and how to describe the different structures.
Aim: to provide tools necessary to name, describe and understand a range of
plant structures, their function and variation.
• Life Form Diversity
Understanding major life or growth forms across the Angiosperms.
Understanding how the plant grows and how the structures work together.
Aim: to become familiar with the different growth forms of plants and where
such growth forms may be found.
• Taxonomic Diversity
A tour of the major lineages of Angiosperms focusing on groups important to
South Africa.
Aim: to be able to understand lineage and identify how plants are related and
what they are.
, Plant Morphology
o Basics
Theophrastus (370-285 BC)
One of the first to write detailed descriptions of plants using technical terminology
(father of Botany).
Most used book – Historia Plantarum “Enquiry into Plants”
Why study?
It is relevant to all aspects of plant biology.
Describing plant morphology goes a long way to understanding function and
adaptation as well as having a universal understanding.
The process of description helps other forms of study and their application such as :
Know a plant cell and its functions –
search a youtube video
, Plant Tissue
4 main types:
• Meristematic Tissue
- Important for the primary growth of a plant (growing taller and wider) as well
as secondary growth (growing thicker and stronger).
- At the initial stages of plant growth, the tissues are the same with the same
function of growth, after maturity they divide and are found only in the
growing parts of plants, this is divided into 3 parts:
Apical Meristem – located at the roots and shoot increasing the length of the plant.
Lateral Meristem – located at the cambium increasing thickness of the plant.
Intercalary Meristem – located at the base of leaves / internodes growing twigs into
leaves.
, • Epidermal cells
- Layer of cells covering the plant, is adapted to the environment of a plant.
- Dry has thicker cells with cutin for water loss.
Structure
Stem and leaf
- secretes a waxy cuticle that protects it from parasitic infection, mechanical
injuries, and water loss.
- Has no intercellular spaces, cells are flat, thicker outer cell wall.
- Contains a stomata for gaseous exchange and release of water vapor
controlled by the guard cells.
Roots
- Cell wall is thin.
- Absence of cuticle.
- Forms unicellular projections, root hairs, that penetrate soil particles to
absorb water and nutrients.
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