UPCAT Biology — Plants (Botany)Cheat Sheet
A printable cheat sheet for Plants (Botany), built for UPCAT reviewers who want one go-to reference in the final stretch. Covers formulas, key definitions, common question types, and the University of the Philippines-specific twists you will see on UPCAT day.
Exam context
On the UPCAT 2026, the Biology subtest carries a "Core" weight in University of the Philippines's pattern. Plants (Botany) lands at position 3rd out of 7 in the standard review order. Target score is UPG ≤ 2.2 typical, and roughly 20 items come from Biology on a typical UPCAT paper.
Plants (Botany) - Cheat sheet
Your last-minute revision companion for Plants (Botany) - covering all exam-critical plant classification, structures, and processes
Sections
Section Title
Plant Classification
Important Facts
- Plants are multicellular autotrophs with chlorophyll
- Thallophyta (algae) lack body differentiation
- Bryophytes are non-vascular amphibians of plant kingdom
- Pteridophytes are vascular spore-producing plants
- Gymnosperms have naked seeds without ovary
- Angiosperms have seeds enclosed in ovary
Key Definitions
Term
Autotroph
Example
Green plants, algae, cyanobacteria
Definition
Organisms that produce their own food through photosynthesis using inorganic substances
Term
Heterotroph
Example
Animals, fungi, most bacteria
Definition
Organisms that obtain carbon by consuming preexisting organic molecules
Term
Thallus
Example
Kelp frond, seaweed body
Definition
Main undifferentiated body of algae without true roots, stems, or leaves
Term
Sporophyte
Example
Fern plant, moss capsule
Definition
Diploid phase that produces spores through meiosis in plant life cycle
Term
Gametophyte
Example
Moss plant, fern prothallus
Definition
Haploid phase that produces gametes through mitosis in plant life cycle
Diagrams To Know
- Plant kingdom classification tree
- Algae parts (thallus, blade, stipe, holdfast)
- Bryophyte life cycle with alternation of generations
- Fern life cycle showing sporophyte and gametophyte phases
Section Title
Algae Classification
Important Facts
- Red algae store floridean starch, have unstacked thylakoids
- Brown algae store laminarin, have 3 stacked thylakoids
- Green algae store starch, have 2-20 stacked thylakoids
- Only brown and green algae produce motile sperm
- Gas bladders help maintain upright position in water
Key Definitions
Term
Rhodophyta
Example
Irish moss, coralline algae
Definition
Red algae with chlorophyll a and d, mainly marine, sessile
Term
Phaeophyta
Example
Kelp, rockweed, Sargassum
Definition
Brown algae with chlorophyll a and c, exclusively marine
Term
Chlorophyta
Example
Sea lettuce, Codium
Definition
Green algae with chlorophyll a and b, mainly freshwater, motile
Term
Holdfast
Example
Kelp attachment to rocks
Definition
Root-like structure for anchorage to substrate in algae
Diagrams To Know
- Algae body parts diagram
- Three types of algae comparison chart
Section Title
Bryophytes (Non-vascular Plants)
Important Facts
- Gametophyte is dominant, sporophyte depends on it
- Require water for reproduction (sperm movement)
- Have cuticle and stomata (except liverworts)
- No true roots, stems, or leaves
- Spores produced in capsules through meiosis
Key Definitions
Term
Bryophyta
Example
Mosses, liverworts, hornworts
Definition
Non-vascular plants found on land and water, amphibians of plant kingdom
Term
Antheridium
Example
Rounded structure in moss
Definition
Male sex organ producing biflagellate sperm in bryophytes
Term
Archegonium
Example
Bottle-shaped structure in moss
Definition
Flask-shaped female sex organ producing eggs in bryophytes
Term
Rhizoids
Example
Hair-like structures in moss
Definition
Root-like structures for anchorage, not true roots
Diagrams To Know
- Bryophyte life cycle diagram
- Antheridium vs Archegonium structures
- Moss, liverwort, and hornwort comparison
Section Title
Vascular Plants (Tracheophyta)
Important Facts
- Contain xylem and phloem for transport
- Sporophyte generation is dominant
- Include seedless (pteridophytes) and seed plants
- Show alternation of generations
- Have true roots, stems, and leaves
Key Definitions
Term
Xylem
Example
Wood in trees
Definition
Vascular tissue that conducts water and dissolved minerals upward
Term
Phloem
Example
Inner bark in trees
Definition
Vascular tissue that conducts organic food materials throughout plant
Term
Sporangium
Example
Sori on fern leaves
Definition
Structure containing spores in pteridophytes
Term
Sporophyll
Example
Fertile frond in ferns
Definition
Specialized leaf bearing sporangia
Diagrams To Know
- Vascular tissue arrangement in stem
- Pteridophyte classification chart
- Fern anatomy with sporangia
Section Title
Seed Plants (Spermatophyta)
Important Facts
- Heterosporous (produce micro and megaspores)
- Highly developed sporophyte, reduced gametophyte
- Gymnosperms are perennial and xerophytic
- Angiosperms undergo double fertilization
- Most commercial plants are angiosperms
Key Definitions
Term
Gymnosperm
Example
Pine, cycad, cedar
Definition
Non-flowering plants with naked seeds, no ovary
Term
Angiosperm
Example
Rose, mango, grass
Definition
Flowering plants with seeds enclosed in ovary
Term
Cotyledon
Example
Bean halves, corn endosperm
Definition
Seed leaf in plant embryo, stores food for germination
Term
Double fertilization
Example
Formation of seed and fruit
Definition
Process in angiosperms where one sperm fertilizes egg, another forms endosperm
Diagrams To Know
- Gymnosperm vs angiosperm comparison
- Flower parts diagram
- Monocot vs dicot characteristics
Section Title
Plant Tissues
Important Facts
- Ground tissue fills soft parts of plant
- Vascular tissue transports materials
- Dermal tissue provides protection
- Meristematic tissue remains young and divides
- Permanent tissue has specialized functions
Key Definitions
Term
Parenchyma
Example
Potato flesh, leaf mesophyll
Definition
Living cells with thin cellulose walls, for storage and photosynthesis
Term
Collenchyma
Example
Celery strings
Definition
Living cells with thick cellulose walls, provides flexible support
Term
Sclerenchyma
Example
Wood fibers, coconut husk
Definition
Dead cells with lignified walls, provides rigid support
Term
Epidermis
Example
Leaf surface, stem covering
Definition
Outermost protective layer of cells with waxy cuticle
Diagrams To Know
- Three tissue types comparison
- Cross-section of stem showing tissue arrangement
- Epidermis with stomata and cuticle
Formulas
Formula
6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
Meaning
Carbon dioxide + Water → Glucose + Oxygen
Watch Out
Must have light energy and chlorophyll as conditions
When To Use
Overall photosynthesis equation in presence of light and chlorophyll
Section Title
Photosynthesis
Important Facts
- Occurs in chloroplasts of mesophyll cells
- Light reactions occur in thylakoid membranes
- Carbon reactions occur in stroma
- Produces glucose and oxygen from CO₂ and water
- Accessory pigments include chlorophyll b and carotenoids
Key Definitions
Term
Chlorophyll a
Example
Main pigment in thylakoid membranes
Definition
Primary green photosynthetic pigment that captures light energy
Term
Light reactions
Example
Water splitting, oxygen release
Definition
First stage of photosynthesis producing ATP and NADPH in thylakoids
Term
Calvin cycle
Example
Carbon fixation in C3 plants
Definition
Carbon reactions in stroma that fix CO₂ into glucose using ATP and NADPH
Term
Stomata
Example
Openings controlled by guard cells
Definition
Pores in leaves for gas exchange during photosynthesis
Diagrams To Know
- Chloroplast structure with thylakoids and stroma
- Leaf cross-section showing mesophyll and stomata
- Light and carbon reactions overview
Reactions Or Equations
Note
Water is oxidized, CO₂ is reduced
Equation
6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light energy → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
Conditions
Chlorophyll, light, optimal temperature
Must Remember
- Photosynthesis equation: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
- Plant kingdom progression: Thallophyta → Bryophyta → Pteridophyta → Spermatophyta
- Bryophytes need water for reproduction (sperm movement)
- Gymnosperms have naked seeds, Angiosperms have enclosed seeds
- Xylem transports water up, Phloem transports food throughout
- Monocots have one cotyledon and parallel venation, Dicots have two cotyledons and net venation
- Alternation of generations: diploid sporophyte and haploid gametophyte
- Chlorophyll a is primary pigment, chlorophyll b and carotenoids are accessory
- Light reactions in thylakoids produce ATP and NADPH, Calvin cycle in stroma fixes carbon
- Antheridium (male) is rounded, Archegonium (female) is flask-shaped
Last Minute Tips
- Remember the three algae by color: RED marine, BROWN marine, GREEN freshwater
- For bryophyte identification: Mosses have leaves, liverworts are flat, hornworts have one chloroplast
- Pteridophyte classification: Psilophyta (no leaves), Lycophyta (small leaves), Sphenophyta (whorled), Pterophyta (fronds)
- Monocot vs Dicot: Count flower parts - 3s for mono, 4s/5s for di
- Tissue memory trick: Parenchyma = living storage, Collenchyma = living support, Sclerenchyma = dead rigid
Comparison Tables
Rows
Values
- Rhodophyta
- Phaeophyta
- Chlorophyta
Property
Phylum
Values
- Chlorophyll a,d + phycobilins
- Chlorophyll a,c + fucoxanthin
- Chlorophyll a,b
Property
Pigments
Values
- Mainly marine
- Exclusively marine
- Mainly freshwater
Property
Habitat
Values
- Floridean starch
- Laminarin
- Starch
Property
Storage
Values
- Sessile
- Sessile
- Mainly motile
Property
Motility
Columns
- Characteristic
- Red Algae
- Brown Algae
- Green Algae
Table Title
Algae Types Comparison
Rows
Values
- Bryophyta
- Marchantiophyta
- Anthocerophyta
Property
Phylum
Values
- Erect stem and leaves
- Flat or leafy
- Flat
Property
Gametophyte
Values
- Yes
- No (pores only)
- Yes
Property
Stomata
Values
- Spiral with midrib
- Overlapping
- None
Property
Leaves
Values
- Many
- Many
- One large
Property
Chloroplasts
Columns
- Feature
- Mosses
- Liverworts
- Hornworts
Table Title
Bryophyte Groups
Rows
Values
- One
- Two
Property
Cotyledons
Values
- Parallel
- Reticulate/Net
Property
Leaf venation
Values
- Fibrous
- Taproot
Property
Root system
Values
- Multiples of 3
- Multiples of 4 or 5
Property
Flower parts
Values
- Scattered
- Ring arrangement
Property
Stem vascular bundles
Columns
- Characteristic
- Monocots
- Dicots
Table Title
Monocots vs Dicots
Rows
Values
- Living
- Thin cellulose
- Storage, photosynthesis
- Potato flesh
Property
Parenchyma
Values
- Living
- Thick cellulose
- Flexible support
- Celery strings
Property
Collenchyma
Values
- Dead
- Lignified
- Rigid support
- Wood fibers
Property
Sclerenchyma
Columns
- Tissue
- Cell Type
- Wall
- Function
- Example
Table Title
Plant Tissue Types
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