tree-logo.gif (7741 bytes) Plant Taxonomy (BIOL308)  -  Stephen G. Saupe, Ph.D.; Biology Department, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, Collegeville, MN 56321; ssaupe@csbsju.edu; http://www.employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe/

Vegetative Structures - Exercises/Study Questions

Background Information:

General Study Tips/Questions:

  1. Scavenger Hunt:  Hunt for examples of the terms, especially those for leaf blade shape, leaf apices, leaf bases, leaf margins, and surface features.
  2. As you study, some questions to consider: What does each feature look like? Can you sketch a plant with these features? Can you describe it in your own words? How can you distinguish between these structures (e.g., root vs. stem, compound vs. simple leaves, palmate vs. pinnate, fibrous vs. adventitious root)? Can you give some examples of these?
  3. Use your tape recorder to record definitions of each term. Use each term in a sentence.
  4. Make flashcards with each term and a diagram (excellent diagrams can be found online, in Zomlefer's book and other sources)
  5. Pick 10 - a clever exercise adapted from Texas A&M: Collect a plant specimen(s) to show at least ten of the following vegetative features:  herb, shrub, tree, vine (not necessary to get whole plant for these), evergreen, deciduous, simple leaves, pinnately compound leaves (odd or evenly pinnate?), twice pinnately compound leaves, palmately compound leaves, prickle, thorn, spine, tendril, aerial root, entire margin, serrate margin (single or doubly serrate?), crenate margin, lobed leaf (palmately or pinnately lobed?), pubescent leaf, scabrous leaf, alternate leaves, opposite leaves, whorled leaves, glaucous, leaves with stipules, pinnate venation, parallel venation, twig with prominent lenticels.  Tape your sample to a sheet a paper and label the features. 
  6. Answer questions in the text such as 1-30.

Definitions:  Using a single sentence, define or describe the following:

  1. glaucous

  2. glabrous

  3. pubescent

  4. character state

  5. bud
  6. crown
  7. "ob-"
  8. rosette
  9. pith
  10. succulent
  11. mycorrhizae

Short Answer Questions:

  1. Explain why botanists use lots of terminology (jargon)?
  2. Compare and contrast the terms character and character state.
  3. What's the difference between a fixed and variable character?  Which is more important from a taxonomic perspective? 
  4. Compare and contrast character and character state.
  5. How can you tell if a herbaceous plant is an annual, biennial, or perennial?
  6. How can you tell if a structure is a leaf or leaflet?
  7. What is the function of a bud?
  8. Name the three basic types of leaf arrangement and describe the differences between each.
  9. What does each letter of the acronym MADCAP Horse (or MAD Honey Buck) stand for?
  10. Name the 3 major vegetative organs of a plant.  Describe the function(s) of each.
  11. How can you tell if an underground part is a root or a stem?
  12. Describe some differences between monocot and eudicot leaves.
  13. Compare and contrast thorn, prickle, spine.

True/False Questions:  Answer each of the following True or False. Correct any false statements

  1. _____ All leaves have stipules

  2. _____ All leaves have petioles

  3. _____ The midrib of a compound leaf is called the rachis

  4. _____ A diagnostic feature is not useful for identification purposes

  5. _____ Buds contain flowers

Leaves:

  1. Sketch a branch with three, alternately arranged leaves.  Each leaf is simple, stipulate, serrate, sessile (no petiole), with palmate venation.

  2. Sketch a pinnately compound leaf.  Label leaflets, rachis and petiole.

Stems:

  1. On a separate sheet of paper, sketch a twig of walnut (Juglans nigra), butternut (Juglans cinerea) or other specimen.  Label/identify the following: node, internode, leaf axil, bud, axillary bud, terminal bud, bud scales, bud scale scar, stipule scars, leaf scar, lenticel, vascular bundle scar. Define/describe each term.
  2. When are buds formed?
  3. Describe, sketch and give an example of each of the following types of stems:  bulb, corm, stolon (runner), corm, tuber

 Roots:

  1. Sketch the following root types:  taproot, fibrous root, adventitious roots.
  2. Identify one or more plants that produce each of the root types listed above.

Plant Study:  Obtain a variety of specimens and complete the following table.
Table 1: Vegetative Features
Characters & States (use as many as apply)

Species (binomial and family)

         
Life span (annual, biennial, perennial, winter annual)          
Leaf duration:  Evergreen or deciduous          
Woody or Herbaceous          
Growth Form (herb, shrub, tree, forb, vine, liana, succulent - use as many as pertain)          
Root type (tap, fibrous, adventitious)          
Stem type (rhizome, tuber, stolon, bulb, corm, caulescent, erect, climbing, prostrate)          
Leaf attachment (basal, cauline, rosette, sessile, perfoliate, sheathing)          
Leaf arrangement (alternate, opposite, whorled)          
Venation (palmate, pinnate, dichotomous, net)          
Stipules (+/-, shape, persistence (caducous?), size)          
Leaf compounding (simple, pin-cpd, palm-cpd)          
Leaf Shape (lanceolate, ovate, cordate, reniform, linear, oblong, elliptical, deltoid, spatulate, sagitate, other?)          
Shape of Leaf Base (acute, obtuse, truncate, emarginate, acuminate, mucronate)          
Shape of Leaf Apex           
Margin (entire, lobed, serrate, doubly serrate, crenate, undulate)          
Spines, thorns, or  prickles?          
Surface (glabrous, glaucous, pubescent, tomentose; are both sides the same?)          

Supermarket Botany:

  1. Which organs are considered vegetative? reproductive?
  2. What is a vegetable?
  3. Circle the vegetables in the following list:
  • avocado
  • broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • celery
  • cucumber
  • eggplant
  • green bean
  • green pepper
  • peas
  • potato
  • pumpkin
  • tomato
  • zucchini
  1. Identify the structure (organ) that is eaten for each of the following:
asparagus   Irish potato  
beet   lettuce  
Brussels sprouts   radish  
cauliflower   rhubarb  
celery   rutabaga  
ginger   sweet potato  
  1. Take a field trip to the grocery store and identify the vegetative structures of common vegetables, herbs, etc
     

Challenge Problems: Can you name a seed-plant plant that has:

  1. leaves and stems, but no roots?
  2. stems and roots, but no leaves?
  3. no distinct stems, leaves or roots
  4. no chlorophyll?
  5. stems, leaves and roots but not flowers or fruits?

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Last updated:  09/10/2007 / © Copyright by SG Saupe