Plant Reproductive

• aleurone layer


  the protein rich outermost layer on the endosperm that serves as an important enzyme store
• anther


  the pollen-bearing structure of the stamen
• carpel


  the female part of the plant consisting of a stigma, a style and an ivary
• cotyledons


  embryonic seed leaves that merge following germination
• cross pollination


  type of pollination in which pollen is transferred from an anther of one plant to a stigma of. different plant. this results with greater genetic diversity
• dehiscence


  the splitting of the anther resulting in the release of pollen grains
• dicotyledons


  plants that produce seeds that contain two cotyledon; they have two primary leaves
• double fertilisation


  fertilisation of seed plants in which one male gamete fuses with. female gamete to form a diploid zygote and another fuses with two polar nuclei to form a tripoli’s endosperm nucleus
• endosperm 


  the food source surrounding plant embryo
• endospermic seed


  a seed that contains an endosperm when mature, e.g. maize
• germination 


  the process by which a plant grows from a seed
• gibberellin


  a plant hormone, which, during germination, induces synthesis of amylase by aleurone cells, hydrolysing stored nutrients in the endosperm
• hilum


  a scar on the testa as a result of separation from it’s funicle
• insect pollinated flower


  type of flower that relies on insects to transfer pollen grains between flowers
• micropyle 


  a pore in the integument of an ovule through which the pollen tube enters the embryo sac. it remains as a pore in the testa
• non endospermic seed


  a seed that does not contain an endosperm when mature, e.g. broad bean. cotyledons serve as the food source
• ovary


  part of the carpel that holds the ovules and following fertilisation. develops into the fruit
• ovule


  the part of the ovary that gives rise to and contains the female germ cell. after fertilisation, the ovule becomes the seed
• petals 


  structures that surround the reproductive parts of a flower. they are often brightly coloured and fragrant to attract insects
• plumule


  the part of a plant embryo that develops into the primary shoot
• pollen grain


  a single granule of pollen that contains the male haploid gamete. grains are small and produced in large numbers in wind pollinated plants, whereas they are large and sticky in insect pollinated plants
• pollen tube


  a hollow tube that grows from a pollen grain to the embryo sac in the ovule after pollination. it delivers two male gametes
• pollination


  the deposition of pollen onto a stigma from an anther
• radicle 


  the part of a plant embryo that develops into the root
• self pollination 


  a type of pollination in which pollen is transferred from an anther of a plant to a stigma of the same plant. this results in plants with less genetic diversity
• stamen


  the male part of plant consisting of an anther and a filament that is involved in the production of male gametes in the form of pollen grains
• stigma


  the sticky structure of the carpel that receives pollen grains
• tapetum 


  a specialised layer of cells within the anther that provide nutrients to developing pollen grains
• testa


  the outer covering of a seed, commonly referred to as the seed coat
• vicia faba 


  a species of flowering plant, commonly known as the broad bean, that is cultivated for its nutrient-rich seeds
• wind pollinated flower


  a type of flower that relies on wind to transfer pollen grains between flowers