BOTN 201 - Exam 1 - Spring, 1995

Botany 201 - Taxonomy of Flowering Plants - Spring, 1995

Lecture Examination I

This is a replicate 'key' of the first lecture exam. The final exam will be partially comprehensive (100 points). It is therefore important to know correct responses to questions of the three hour exams. These are indicated on image-based questions and highlighted for others. Highlighted, correct responses are internal links that, on selection, will take you to an overview discussion of the question and responses. Selection of the highlighted correct response, or use of the 'back' button on your browser, will take you back to the question.

Questions 1-5: Identify structures associated with the shoot:

Possible answers:

a. lateral (axillary) meristem or bud   b. node  c. internode            
     d. petiole   e. terminal (apical) meristem or bud

Questions 6-10: Identify patterns of leaf veination (6-8) and root types (9-10):

Possible answers:

          a. parallel   b. pinnate   c. tap   
             d. palmate   e. adventitious

Questions 11-15: Identify placentation types from ovary sections:

Possible answers:

       a. free-central   b. basal   c. axile
             d. parietal   e. marginal

Indicate the correct response: (questions 16-25)

16. The ovary cross-section depicted in #15 (above) represents a:

a. simple pistil   b. syncarpous gynoecium   c. compound pistil
         d. multicarpellate gynoecium   e. multiple fruit

17. Which group of flowering plants contains the GREATEST number of species:

      a.  Magnoliopsida  b.  Magnoliidae  c.  Magnoliaceae 
               d.  Liliopsida  e.  Magnolia

18. The basic unit of the androecium is the:

      a. carpel   b. stamen   c. anther   d. petal   e. ovule

19. A plant at anthesis would be:

           a. in flower   b. without woody tissue  
c. without trichomes   d. bisexual   e. with a waxy covering

20. Of the following characteristics, select the most distinctive key character for the Magnoliophyta:

   a. leaf type   b. pollen structure   c. presence of seeds 
                      d. fruit   e. roots

21. The term 'glabrous' refers to:

a. leaf development  b. fruit production  c. floral development  
           d. absence of trichomes  e. lack of a stalk

22. Identify the HAPLOID, sexual, egg-producing plant in the angiosperm life cycle:

       a. sporophyte  b. microgametophyte  c. epiphyte  
        d. megagametophyte (embryo sac)  e. macrophyte

23. The first, most primitive, angiosperms were probably:

       a. herbaceous  b. epigynous  c. syncarpous  
               d. monoecious  e. woody

24. The ovule is attached to the pericarp by the:

        a. peduncle  b. funiculus  c. pyxis  
            d. pedicel  e. connective

25. The connective is part of the:

       a. pericarp   b. gynoecium  c. perianth 
           d. carpel  e. androecium

Questions 26-30: Provide identifications, from options listed below, for parts of the flower:

Possible answers:

a. source of the megagametophyte   b.  receptacle   c. gynoecium
   d. part of the corolla     e. source of the microgametophyte

Response Overviews

16. The ovary cross-section depicted in #15 (above) represents a:

a. simple pistil - marginal placentation - a single line of ovules and a single locule - reflects a single carpel, i.e., a unicarpellate gynoecium or a simple pistil
b. syncarpous gynoecium - syncarpy (connation or fusion of carpels) is marked by placentation types that include more than one line of ovules and, often, more than one locule.
c. compound pistil - a compound pistil is the result of syncarpy, i.e., it is a single unit composed of more than one carpel.
d. multicarpellate gynoecium - this term denotes either a compound pistil or apocarpy (a group of separate carpels). The ovary cross-section (#15) could be PART of an apocarpous, multicarpellate gynoecium but, given the information available in the question, the best response (no assumptions) would be 'simple pistil'.
e. multiple fruit - this is not a true fruit in that the term denotes a series of gynoecia, each derived from a separate FLOWER, that mature to form a fruiting structure. As is the case with response 'd', this is not the best response.

17. Which taxon carries the largest number of species within its circumscription?

a. Magnoliopsida - as indicated by the '-opsida' ending, this taxon represents one of the two classes of the flowering plant division Magnoliophyta. This taxon, commonly known as the 'dicots' is as inclusive as its sister class, the 'monocots' (see response 'd' below), but it includes more species, ca. 160,000.
b. Magnoliidae - as indicated by the '-idae' ending, this taxon represents the rank of subclass, one of six that are included within the class Magnoliopsida. In terms of rank in the taxonomic hierarchy, it stands well above order and family.

c. Magnoliaceae - a family, as indicated by the '-aceae' ending. This rank is less inclusive than class (-opsida), subclass (idae), and order (-ales). This one is quite small, ca. 200 relatively archaic, woody species.
d. Liliopsida - as indicated by the '-opsida' ending, this taxon represents one of the two classes of the flowering plant division Magnoliophyta. This taxon, commonly known as the 'monocots' is as inclusive as its sister class, the 'dicots' (see the correct response 'a' above), but it includes fewer species, ca. 60,000.
e. Magnolia - a genus, the least inclusive rank of those listed as responses to this question. While some genera (Senecio [1,500], Carex [1,000], Euphorbia [1,600] include more species than the smallest angiosperm sublcass (Liliopsida - Alismatidae [ca. 500], this is a small group of ca. 125 species - the smallest of those taxa listed as possible answers to this question

18. Basic unit of the androecium ('male' whorl of floral appendages just below the gynoecium and just above the perianth)?

a. carpel - basic unit of the gynoecium
b. stamen - the androecium is made up of stamens (modified microsporophylls)
c. anther - a PART (microsporangium) of the basic unit
d. petal - basic unit of the corolla
e. ovule - immature seed found WITHIN the gynoecium

19. A plant at anthesis would be:

a. in flower - 'anthesis' refers to that developmental point where the flower or inflorescence is open for reproductive activity
b. without woody tissue - the term 'herbaceous' would cover this
c. without trichomes - described by the term 'glabrous'
d. bisexual - a 'perfect' flower
e. with a waxy covering - = 'glaucous'

20. Of the following characteristics, select the mostdistinctive key character for the Magnoliophyta (the flowering plant (angiosperm) division or phyllum (ending - 'ophyta'):

a. leaf type - all vascular plants (ferns, gymnosperms, angiosperms) share a common, fundamental leaf structure
b. pollen structure - pollen grains (microspore with microgametophyte inside) can show key characters but, of possible responses, this is not the most distinctive, i.e., some gymnosperm pollen is similar to that of many monocots (monosulcate)
c. presence of seeds - a character that circumscribes the 'seed plants' (gymnosperms and angiosperms) but not the flowering plants as a unit
d. fruit - a feature UNIQUE to the angiosperms
e. roots - roots structure is very conservative. Thus, few key characters

21. The term 'glabrous' refers to:

a. leaf development - maybe 'phyllotaxy'
b. fruit production - no term available
c. floral development - the term 'anthesis' could be applied (see question 19)
d. absence of trichomes - Yes, a plant or plant part without pubescence or hairs (trichomes) is 'glabrous'
e. lack of a stalk - the term for this is 'sessile'

22. Identify the HAPLOID, sexual, egg-producing plant in the angiosperm life cycle:

a. sporophyte - 'spore producing plant' - diploid (2n phase of the life cycle that produces haploid microspores and megaspores via meiosis in the sporangia
b. microgametophyte 'plant producing the small gamete' that is haploid and sexual but not EGG producing
c. epiphyte - term that denotes a plant that is usually positioned on another plant
d. megagametophyte (embryo sac) - 'plant producing the large gamete (egg)
e. macrophyte - general term for 'large plant'

23. The first, most primitive, angiosperms were probably: (consider key characters of the basal subclass Magnoliidae)

a. herbaceous - the first angiosperms (similar to extant Winteraceae) were probably like most extant gymnosperms - woody.
b. epigynous - epigyny (inferior ovary) is a derived, specialized condition. Following current phylogenetic classification systems, the most advanced elements of the dicots (Asteraceae) and monocots (Orchidaceae) are epigynous.
c. syncarpous - Connation is more specialized (advanced) than separate parts. The 'ranalian' flower of Charles Bessey has numerous, separate parts with no fusion.
d. monoecious - again, following the Bessyian model of the archaic angiosperm flower, ALL floral whorls are present - perfect and complete
e. woody - the correct response - see response 'a' above.

24. The ovule is attached to the pericarp by the: (looking for a 'stalk' term)

a. peduncle - 'stalk' of a solitary flower or of an inflorescence
b. funiculus - 'stalk' that connects the ovule to the pericarp - recall red Magnolia seeds suspended from the open follicles, hanging by their funiculi
c. pyxis - a dry, dehiscent (circumcissile) fruit
d. pedicel - 'stalk' of a flower that is part of an inflorescence
e. connective - zone of tissue in the stamen that lies between or 'connects' the anthers

25. The connective is part of the:

a. pericarp - ovary wall
b. gynoecium - carpellary whorl of the flower
c. perianth - non reproductive whorls (or whorl) of the flower
d. carpel - basic unit of the gynoecium
e. androecium - the connective is the zone of tissue in the stamen that lies between or 'connects' the anthers. Thus, it is part of the androecium.

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Last updated by HDW on 3 March 1995