Biomes Toolkit

Cones:

the reproductive structure of gymnosperms. There are two kinds of cones:

• Pollen cone (male), which bares the pollen
• Seed cone (female), develops and houses seeds

Conifers:

plants that produce seeds inside cones

Conifer Leaves:

come in different shapes, lengths and locations on twigs. Leaves can be used to identify different kinds of trees. Typically, conifer leaves are short and narrow to reduce transpiration

Gymnosperms:

seed producing plants. Gymnosperm means “naked seeds.” They are called this because their seeds are open to the air with no covering

Pollen:

is a fine powder-like material produced in the small male cone. Wind carries the pollen on to the female cone. All conifers are wind pollinated

Broadleaves:

having broad leaves rather than needle to scale-like leaves

Bulb:

a short, modified stem underground surrounded by fleshy leaves that contain stored food for the shoot and further growth. For example, onions, daffodils, garlic, etc.

Canopy:

the upper layer of a forest formed by the crowns of trees

Chlorophyll:

green pigment (color) that is found in plants that aids in photosynthesis. Plant captures light to photosynthesize carbon dioxide and water into an energy source (sugar) and release oxygen as a byproduct

Deciduous:

falling off or shedding off of leaves at a specific season or time of growth

Leaf:

part of the plant that collects sunlight and gases from the air and uses them to make food for the plant, a process known as photosynthesis

Photosynthesis:

is the process in which green plants use sunlight to make their own food. The plant captures sunlight, and takes in carbon dioxide and water and turns it into a type of sugar. The sugar is either stored or used as energy for the plant and in the process, oxygen is a byproduct

Sap:

a watery liquid that circulates through a plant carrying food

Sapling:

a young tree

Shrub:

woody plant, low height

Buttress Roots:

these are roots that are visible above ground and support and reinforce a shallow rooted tree, typically trees found in poor rainforest soils

Canopy:

the canopy is the upper layer of the forest which includes the crowns or the tops of the trees

Decompose:

to decay, to break down the tissue of the plant

Humidity:

dampness in the air, high amounts of water vapor in the air

Stilt Roots:

a large prop root that emerges from a branch and grows toward the ground, it brings support and added nutrients

Tropical:

hot and humid, tropics – referring to the two parallels of latitude on Earth that are above and below the equator

Understory:

hot and humid, tropics – referring to the two parallels of latitude on Earth that are above and below the equator

Vines or Lianas:

a weak stemmed plant that winds, twines or creeps and seeks support from other plants or other surfaces

Cactus:

various succulent perennials, spiny, usually leafless plants, native mostly to arid (dry) regions of the new world. Cacti have thick branches with spines instead of leaves. They produce chlorophyll in the thick stems. Leaves are absent to minimize the surface area from which water can be lost.

• Cactus – singular
• Cacti – plural

Drought Deciduous:

are plants that shed their leaves during periods of drought or generally in a dry season. This phenomenon is a natural process of plants and is caused due to the limitation of water around the environment where the plant is situated

Prickles:

small hard pointed outgrowths of the epidermis of a plant, can be found anywhere on the plant, they have no vascular bundles

Spines:

are modified leaves, act as protection from the sun damage and thirsty animals looking to get water from cacti

Spines, Thorns, and Prickles predominant function is to prevent animals from eating the plant. They have also been shown to shade or insulate the plant. They have little effect on pollinators

Succulents:

predominant function is to prevent animals from eating the plant. They have also been shown to shade or insulate the plant. They have little effect on pollinators

Thorns:

are modified branches in the form of sharp woody structure, they arise from a bud