Plant Morphology Michael G. Simpson Plant Structure Terms Used for a specific structure/organ
Plant Habit Herb - plant with annual above-ground parts = general form of a plant, encompassing stem duration and branching pattern, development, or texture. Herb - plant with annual above-ground parts Geophyte - perennial herb with rootstock Vine - weak stemmed Liana - woody vine Shrub - woody, multiple stems from base Subshrub - woody just above ground Tree - woody, one trunk
Plant Duration Annual- ≤ 1 year Biennial- 2 years = how long a plant lives. Annual- ≤ 1 year Biennial- 2 years Perennial- 3 or more years
= environment where plant lives. Plant Habitat = environment where plant lives. Terrestrial Aquatic Submersed Floating Emergent Epiphytic Saxicolous
= structure, life cycle, physiology. Plant Life Form = structure, life cycle, physiology. Therophyte – annual Geophyte – perennial herb Epiphyte – plant growing on another plant Halophyte – salt-adapted plants Succulent – plant with fleshy leaves or stems Xerophyte – plant living in dry, hot environments
Roots Function - absorption, anchorage Structure - rootcap, root hairs, endodermis Adventitious roots - arise from non-root organ Lateral roots - arise from another root (1˚, 2˚, etc.)
Root Types/Parts taproot fibrous prop haustorial
storage roots Raphanus sativus, radish Root Types/Parts storage roots Raphanus sativus, radish
buttress roots Ficus rubiginosa, rusty-leaved fig Root Types/Parts buttress roots Ficus rubiginosa, rusty-leaved fig
pneumatophores Avicennia germinans, black mangrove Root Types/Parts pneumatophores Avicennia germinans, black mangrove
prop roots (also adventitious) Root Types/Parts prop roots (also adventitious)
= stem + associated leaves Shoot = stem + associated leaves
Each leaf primordium develops into one leaf. Caryota sp. Arecaceae ca Each leaf primordium develops into one leaf. Caryota sp. Arecaceae ca. 20 feet long!
Stem (Shoot) Types areole bulb caudex caudiciform stem
Stem (Shoot) Types cladode corm culm fascicle/ short shoot rhizome
Stem (Shoot) Types scape stolon/runner thorn tiller tendril tuber
Stem (Shoot) Types pachycaul pseudobulb
=relative position of stem (+ growth, structure) Stem Habit =relative position of stem (+ growth, structure) prostrate acaulescent caulescent cespitose repent arborescent suffrutescent decumbent
Stem Branching Pattern sympodial monopodial dichotomous sympodial
Twig Structure collateral superposed pseudoterminal naked infrapetiolar
Leaf Structural Type bractlets scale bract phyllode tendril (leaf) unifacial leaf spine
Leaf Structural Type Bract (flower) Epicalyx Bud Scale
Phyllode - Acacia spp. (Fabaceae) Leaf Structural Type Phyllode - Acacia spp. (Fabaceae)
Tendril - Lathyrus (Fabaceae) Leaf Structural Type Tendril - Lathyrus (Fabaceae)
Stipular Spine - Euphorbia spp. (Euphorbiaceae) Leaf Structural Type Stipular Spine - Euphorbia spp. (Euphorbiaceae)
Petiolar Spine - Fouquieria splendens Ocotillo (Fouquieriaceae) Leaf Structural Type Petiolar Spine - Fouquieria splendens Ocotillo (Fouquieriaceae)
Leaf Spine (arising from areole) - Cactaceae Leaf Structural Type Leaf Spine (arising from areole) - Cactaceae
Sharp things thorn - sharp-pointed stem/shoot (fr. axillary bud) spine - sharp-pointed leaf or leaf part leaf spine (also leaflet spine) stipular spine petiolar spine prickle - sharp pointed epidermal appendage
Pitcher Leaf - Nepenthes (Nepenthac.) Sarracenia (Sarraceniac.) Leaf Structural Type Pitcher Leaf - Nepenthes (Nepenthac.) Sarracenia (Sarraceniac.)
Tentacular Leaf - Drosera spp Sundew (Droseraceae) Leaf Structural Type Tentacular Leaf - Drosera spp Sundew (Droseraceae)
Trap Leaf - Dionaea muscipula Venus Fly Trap (Droseraceae) Leaf Structural Type Trap Leaf - Dionaea muscipula Venus Fly Trap (Droseraceae)
Dionaea muscipula Venus Fly Trap (Droseraceae) Leaf Structural Type Dionaea muscipula Venus Fly Trap (Droseraceae)
Leaf Structural Type Iris sp. unifacial
Mimosa pudica Fabaceae Seismonasty Mimosa pudica Fabaceae
Leaf Type / Parts imparipinnate simple pinnately compound paripinnate bipinnately compound
Leaf Type / Parts palmate-ternate pinnate-ternate biternately compound palmately compound ternately compound = trifoliolate
Leaf Type / Parts geminate unifoliolate bigeminate geminate-pinnate costa-palmate
petiolate sessile sheathing decurrent amplexicaul perfoliate connate-perfoliate
Leaf Venation
Leaf Venation