Rough Notes:

Arthur Ramthun: Plant Electrotropism | EU2015

  

Plant electrotropism is plant response to natural internal and external electrical forces. Voltage recordings done on a variety of trees and plants show very large numbers of electrons continuously flowing towards branch tips, with or without leaves. Using voltage recordings, ohm measurements, the strength of Earth’s electric field from references, and assumptions, electrical forces were then calculated using basic electric force equations. Two dimensional electrical forces with assumed angles were reduced using vector analysis to a resultant force at the branch tip, as an example. From the vector analysis, the resultant electric force vector and the branch tip is strong enough to define its direction. As the branch tip grows, lignin forms and structurally holds the growing tip direction. The branch tip growth eventually forms an “electric line of force” in all parts of the woody plant strong enough to resist gravity and other mechanical influences. Plant parts with insufficient lignin to resist gravity, droop downward. In short, woody tree parts are a physical record of electrical flow, just like a Lichtenstein Figure is a physical record of electrical flow.

Arthur Ramthun PE grew up on the family farm and graduated with honors with a BS in Agricultural Engineering from Michigan State University in 1978. He has worked at John Deere, Sperry New Holland, Flower Creek Dairy Farm and is presently working as a supervisory engineer doing civil engineering works. His work on Plant Electro-tropism has been done on his own time and expense, is outside his current employment duties, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by his current employer. To contact Arthur, send emails to [email protected].

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BOTANY FOR DUMMIES

From Botany For Dummies

By Rene Fester Kratz

Botany is the study of plants. Plants are very similar to people in a lot of ways, but they also have some differences that can be hard to wrap your brain around. And, like any science class, botany can get a little overwhelming at times. So here are a few items to help you grasp some of the big ideas in botany.

PARTS OF A FLOWER

Flowers can be unisexual, having only male or female parts, or bisexual, having both types of parts. The male parts of a flower make up the stamens. The entire whorl of stamens in the flower is called the androecium.

The sac-like structures at the top of the stamen are the anthers. The anthers house pollen, which contain the male gametophytes that make the sperm. The thread-like stalks that lift the anthers up are called filaments.

The female parts of the flower make up the pistils. The entire whorl of pistils in the flower, which may be separate or fused together, is called the gynoecium.

The sticky tips at the top of the pistils that receive pollen are called stigmas. The swollen bases of the pistils are the ovaries. Inside the ovaries are tiny pearl-like structures called ovules. The ovules contain the female gametophytes, which make the eggs. The slender stalks that connect each stigma to an ovary are called styles.

ALTERNATION OF GENERATIONS IN A PLANT LIFE CYCLE

During the life cycle of a plant, the plant alternates between two forms: the sporophyte generation and the gametophyte generation. So, a complete plant life cycle includes both generations.

Characteristics Sporophyte Generation Gametophyte Generation
Ploidy (# of sets of chromosomes) Diploid (2 sets of chromosomes) Haploid (1 set of chromosomes)
Types of cell division and what they’re used for Mitosis to grow
Meiosis to produce haploid spores, which begin the gametophyte
generation		 Mitosis to grow
Mitosis to produce haploid gametes, which join together to form the
sporophyte generation
How the generation begins Begins when haploid gametes (sperm and egg) fuse to form a
diploid zygote		 Begins when the sporophyte produces a haploid spore
What it looks like in different kinds of plants Most visible form in ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms
Small structures on mosses and lycophytes that grow on the
gametophytes		 Most visible form in mosses and lycophytes
Small but independent structure in ferns’ very small
structures in gymnosperms and angiosperms that are enclosed by the
sporophyte

TYPES OF PLANT TISSUES

Plant tissues come in several forms: vascular, epidermal, ground, and meristematic. Each type of tissue consists of different types of cells, has different functions, and is located in different places.

Tissue Cell Types Function Locations
Vascular tissue Xylem is made up of vessels and tracheids
Phloem is made up of sieve cells and companion cells		 Xylem transports water
Phloem transports sugars		 In stems, leaves, and roots
Epidermal tissue Parenchyma Protect plant tissues and prevent water loss Outer layer of stems, roots, and leaves
Ground tissue Parenchyma
Collenchyma
Sclerenchyma		 Makes up bulk of plant mass Stems, roots, leaves
Meristematic tissue Parenchyma Divide to produce new growth Tips of shoots
Tips of roots
In buds
In a ring around the stem in woody plants