BIOL 117 EXAM 3 COMPREHENSIVE STUDY
GUIDE 2026
◉ Land plants.
Answer: Multicellular, photosynthetic eukaryotes that evolved from
green algae and are adapted to life on land.
◉ Artificial selection.
Answer: The process by which humans breed plants or animals for
specific, desirable traits.
◉ Primary producers.
Answer: Organisms, such as plants and algae, that produce organic
compounds from inorganic substances using energy from sunlight.
◉ Vascular tissue.
Answer: Plant tissue consisting of xylem and phloem that transports
water, minerals, and nutrients throughout the plant body.
◉ Cuticle.
Answer: A waxy, waterproof layer covering the epidermis of land
plants that prevents water loss.
,◉ Stoma / stomata.
Answer: Microscopic pores in the leaf epidermis that allow for gas
exchange between the plant and the atmosphere.
◉ Guard cells.
Answer: Specialized cells that surround and regulate the opening
and closing of stomata.
◉ Lignin.
Answer: A complex organic polymer that provides structural
support and rigidity to plant cell walls, especially in vascular tissue.
◉ Vessel elements.
Answer: Wide, tube-like cells in the xylem of angiosperms that
facilitate efficient water transport.
◉ Gametangia.
Answer: Multicellular organs in plants where gametes are produced.
◉ Embryophytes.
Answer: Another name for land plants, referring to the fact that they
protect their embryos within the tissues of the parent plant.
,◉ Alternation of generations.
Answer: A life cycle in which plants alternate between a
multicellular haploid gametophyte stage and a multicellular diploid
sporophyte stage.
◉ Gametophyte.
Answer: The haploid, multicellular stage in the plant life cycle that
produces gametes by mitosis.
◉ Sporophyte.
Answer: The diploid, multicellular stage in the plant life cycle that
produces spores by meiosis.
◉ Heterospory.
Answer: A condition in plants where two types of spores are
produced: microspores (male) and megaspores (female).
◉ Pollen.
Answer: The male gametophyte of seed plants, protected by a tough
coat, which allows for fertilization without the need for external
water.
◉ Ovule.
, Answer: A structure in seed plants that contains the female
gametophyte and develops into a seed after fertilization.
◉ Flower.
Answer: The reproductive structure of angiosperms, specialized for
sexual reproduction and often attracting pollinators.
◉ Stamen.
Answer: The male reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of an
anther and a filament.
◉ Carpel.
Answer: The female reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of the
stigma, style, and ovary.
◉ Fruit.
Answer: A mature ovary of a flowering plant that protects dormant
seeds and aids in their dispersal.
◉ Monocot.
Answer: A group of angiosperms characterized by having one
cotyledon in the seed, parallel leaf veins, and flower parts in
multiples of three.
GUIDE 2026
◉ Land plants.
Answer: Multicellular, photosynthetic eukaryotes that evolved from
green algae and are adapted to life on land.
◉ Artificial selection.
Answer: The process by which humans breed plants or animals for
specific, desirable traits.
◉ Primary producers.
Answer: Organisms, such as plants and algae, that produce organic
compounds from inorganic substances using energy from sunlight.
◉ Vascular tissue.
Answer: Plant tissue consisting of xylem and phloem that transports
water, minerals, and nutrients throughout the plant body.
◉ Cuticle.
Answer: A waxy, waterproof layer covering the epidermis of land
plants that prevents water loss.
,◉ Stoma / stomata.
Answer: Microscopic pores in the leaf epidermis that allow for gas
exchange between the plant and the atmosphere.
◉ Guard cells.
Answer: Specialized cells that surround and regulate the opening
and closing of stomata.
◉ Lignin.
Answer: A complex organic polymer that provides structural
support and rigidity to plant cell walls, especially in vascular tissue.
◉ Vessel elements.
Answer: Wide, tube-like cells in the xylem of angiosperms that
facilitate efficient water transport.
◉ Gametangia.
Answer: Multicellular organs in plants where gametes are produced.
◉ Embryophytes.
Answer: Another name for land plants, referring to the fact that they
protect their embryos within the tissues of the parent plant.
,◉ Alternation of generations.
Answer: A life cycle in which plants alternate between a
multicellular haploid gametophyte stage and a multicellular diploid
sporophyte stage.
◉ Gametophyte.
Answer: The haploid, multicellular stage in the plant life cycle that
produces gametes by mitosis.
◉ Sporophyte.
Answer: The diploid, multicellular stage in the plant life cycle that
produces spores by meiosis.
◉ Heterospory.
Answer: A condition in plants where two types of spores are
produced: microspores (male) and megaspores (female).
◉ Pollen.
Answer: The male gametophyte of seed plants, protected by a tough
coat, which allows for fertilization without the need for external
water.
◉ Ovule.
, Answer: A structure in seed plants that contains the female
gametophyte and develops into a seed after fertilization.
◉ Flower.
Answer: The reproductive structure of angiosperms, specialized for
sexual reproduction and often attracting pollinators.
◉ Stamen.
Answer: The male reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of an
anther and a filament.
◉ Carpel.
Answer: The female reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of the
stigma, style, and ovary.
◉ Fruit.
Answer: A mature ovary of a flowering plant that protects dormant
seeds and aids in their dispersal.
◉ Monocot.
Answer: A group of angiosperms characterized by having one
cotyledon in the seed, parallel leaf veins, and flower parts in
multiples of three.
