The Louisiana Manual for the Environmental Horticulture Industry Exam Questions And Answers

What is the difference between a cultivar and variety? - ANS Variety: evolutionary, naturally created in nature Cultivar: agro-technical, created by human Who is Linnaeus? What system of naming plants did he create? - ANS A swedish botanist from the 1700s credited for creating the binomial system of nomenclature Why is it important to know common and scientific names of plants? - ANS To be able to communicate with customers and other industry professionals; to find botanical information What are some origins of botanical names? - ANS Countries of origin, names of plant explorers, and descriptive Latin terms. What are some typical groupings for plants? - ANS Uses: ground cover, edging, shade, color Temperature: tropical, hardy, heat-sensitive Life Span: annual, perennial, biennial List the functions of a root system. - ANS Absorption Anchorage Conduction: movement of water + mineral solutions Storage What are the 2 kinds of root systems? - ANS Fibrous: multi-branched, slender roots Taproot: one main root that grows directly downward Define xylem and phloem. - ANS The plant's vascular system Xylem: (inner tissue) transports water + minerals UPWARD, from roots to leaves Phloem: (outer tissue) transports food molecules DOWNWARD, from leaf to stem. List the functions of the stem of a plant. - ANS Support Conduction Storage What is the difference between monocots and dicots? - ANS Monocots: single seed leaf (corn, grass, lily) Dicots: 2 seed leaves (trees, shrubs, annuals) What are nodes and internodes? - ANS Nodes: where leaves emerge Internodes: the space between nodes List the types of specialized stems and roots commonly found in plants. - ANS Bulbs: (compressed stem) lily, narcissus, hyacinth, dutch iris Rhizomes: (modified stem) cannas, ginger, orchid, most iris Tubers: (modified stem) potatoes, caladiums Corms: (modified stem) crocus, colchicum, gladiolus What are the 2 main functions of leaves? - ANS photosynthesis: the manufacturing of carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll transpiration: the process by which moisture which has been absorbed through its roots is emitted from plant leaves through the stomata. dictated by humidity, temperature, and water availability Define angiosperm and gymnosperm. - ANS Angiosperm: plants that bloom & develop fruit which encloses seed, ex: maple, rose, dandelion Gymnosperm: plants with no true flowers or fruit but have uncovered seeds in cones or conifers, ex: pine, yew, cypress List the parts of a complete flower. - ANS Pistil: (female) ovary, stigma, style Stamen: (male) anther, filament Petal Sepal Receptacle Locule Placenta Peduncle Ovule List the priority in which plant parts receive food manufactured by the leaves. - ANS 1. Flower 2. Seeds 3. Leaves 4. Stems 5. Roots List the 3 macronutrients for essential plant growth. - ANS Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K) List the 3 primary elements essential for plant growth - ANS Oxygen (O) Carbon (C) Hydrogen (H) List the 7 micronutrients needed for optimum plant growth. - ANS Boron (B) Manganese (Mn) Copper (Cu) Zinc (Zn) Iron (Fe) Molybdenum (Mo) Chlorine (Cl) How is light intensity commonly measured? - ANS Footcandle: the amount of light falling on one square foot, one foot away from a candle List three functions of water in a plant. - ANS 1. Cools plant during transpiration 2. Solvent for nutrients 3. Needed for photosynthesis 4. Gives plant tissue rigidity Define permanent wilting point. - ANS When there is no gravitational water left, only bound water, and plants begin to die Define microclimate. - ANS Areas with consistent variationsin light, temperature, + moisture in a garden List 3 ways heat travels - ANS Conduction: a warm object in contact with a cooler one Convection: warm air or water currents Radiation: moves through space Define soil texture. - ANS Determined by proportions of sand, silt, and clay Define soil structure. - ANS How particles are arranged Soil can be classified as ________ or _________ - ANS organic; mineral _________ is commonly added to acidic soils to lower pH. - ANS Lime and wood ashes _________ is commonly added to alkaline soils to raise pH. - ANS Sulphur Most ornamental plants prefer a soil pH of __________ - ANS 5.5-7 Acid-loving ornamental plants refer a soil pH of ______ - ANS 5-5.5 True or False: Nutrient availability is regulated by soil. - ANS True List the 4 physiological changes in the reproductive phase of sexual propagation. - ANS 1. Cone bud induction 2. Flower bud initiation + development 3. Flowering 4. Fruit + seed production if fertilization occurs What is the main disadvantage of sexual propagation? - ANS Seed propagation produces offspring not uniformed What are the 2 most critical environmental requirements pertaining to seed germination. - ANS Water + temperature Vegetative propagation is also referred to as ____________ propagation. - ANS Asexual List some examples of ways to vegetatively propagate a plant. - ANS Layering Runners Tuberous roots Underground stems (separation) Strawberry runners are commonly propagated by ____________. - ANS Layering Define grafting. - ANS The process of joining a scion (shoot) into a stock so that cambium layers grow together and for a union of two plant parts What steps should be followed when accepting an order at a retail garden center? - ANS 1. Check size, species, and quantity 2. Determine quality 3. Examine for pests, weeds, and disease What are 3 indicators of a plant needing irrigation? - ANS 1. Foliage color 2. Soil moisture 3. Weight of plant Why is cold damage common on container-grown ornamental plants at temperatures of 20-25 degrees F? - ANS Root systems are above ground and not insulated What is the optimum planting time for adding container-grown plants to a landscape? Balled and burlapped (BB) plants? Bare-rooted plants? - ANS BB: oct-mar BR: dec-feb Container: all year, but fall preferred Should organic amendments be adding to a planting hole when planting an individual tree? - ANS No. Research has shown that amendments do not significantly enhance the growth of ornamental plants. What are advantages of using mulches? - ANS 1. Retain moisture 2. Prevent weeds 3. Protect roots 4. Prevent disease from entering soil What NPK ratio is recommended for fertilizer used on ornamental trees and shrubs? - ANS 4:1:2 Why prune? - ANS Stimulate new growth Improve form + balance Guide growth habit Eliminate death + disease Rejuvenate old growth What is the hormone in the terminal bud of plants that directs bud growth along the stem? - ANS Auxin Define "thinning out" and "heading back". - ANS Thinning out: complete removal of branches back to lateral branch or main trunk Heading back: removes terminal portion of twigs back to axillary bud or node True or False: Most broadleaf shrubs respond well to rejuvenative type pruning - ANS True Are pruning paints recommended to promote wound healing on trees? - ANS No When should spring-flowering shrubs be pruned? - ANS After flowering When should summer-flowering trees and shrubs be pruned? - ANS During dormancy Describe pruning procedures recommended for nandina and mahonia. - ANS As the plants age, thin out older canes by cutting them 6" to 8" above the ground level. Old overgrown plants can be severely pruned to ground level. Because the berries are often used for holiday decoration, prune nandina after the Christmas season.