General plant morphology

 

I.             Typical plant morphology

                A.            Flowering plants (angiosperms) - Phylum Anthophyta

II.            Vegetative organs

                A.            Leaves

                                1.             Primary site of photosynthesis (energy)

                                2.             Primary site of organic synthesis

                                3.             Types of leaves

                                                a)            Simple (single blade) - Osage orange

                                                b)            Scale - Cedar

                                                c)             Needle - Pine

                                                d)            Whorled - Chittamwood

                                                e)             Compound  - Pecan, locust

                                                                1)            Distinguishing feature between simple and compound

                                                                                a)            Look for axillary buds - they do not occur in axils of leaflets

                                                                2)            Types of compound leaves

                                                                                a)            Pinnately (with rachis - "stemlette") - locust

                                                                                b)            Palmately (like a palm or hand) - virginia creeper

                                4.             Variations in leaf shape

                                                a)            Entire (smooth) - Redbud

                                                b)            Dentate (toothed) - Elm

                                                c)             Lobed (deeply indented) - Post Oak

                                5.             Leaf pinnation

                                                a)            parallel

                                                b)            simple pinnate

                                                c)             simple palmate

                                                d)            twice pinnate

                B.            Stems

                                1.             Transport of water, minerals, and carbohydrates

                                2.             Plant structure & support

                                3.             Give rise to new leaves and flowers

                                                a)            Nodes

                                                b)            Internodes

                                                c)             Buds (just above leaf at axil - axillary buds)

                                                                1)            Give rise to shoots

                C.            Roots

                                1.             Absorption of water and minerals

                                2.             Anchor the plant

III.          Reproductive organs - parts of the flower

                A.            Parts not necessary for reproduction

                                1.             Sepals - small and inconspicuous

                                2.             Petals - large and brightly colored

                B.            Parts necessary for reproduction

                                1.             Stamen - male parts

                                                a)            Anther

                                                b)            Filament

                                2.             Pistil (composed of one or more carpels) - female parts

                                                a)            Stigma

                                                b)            Style

                                                c)             Ovary