Feedback Submission from Plant Ontology Live Site

[feedback_submission at brie4.plantontology.org]

    *** Feedback from Plant Ontology Live Site ***

refer_to_url: http://www.plantontology.org/index.html

comments: I teach a plant anatomy course at the University of Rhode Island and I have struggled with presenting antomical terms heirarachically for many years. I believe PO will be an excellent resource and I plan on having my students use it extensively. 

Over the last few week I have been working to make the terminology I use in class consistent with PO and have encountered a few difficulties.

1.  The term "pericycle" (PO:0006203) is defined as "part of the tissue of the stele", yet it is listed as a child of the stem cortex. But, the cortex EXCLUDES the stele, being defined as occuring BETWEEN the vascular system (i.e. the stele) and epidermis.

2.  The "cortex" (PO:0005708) includes the tissues "endodermis" and "hypodermis", but not "parenchyma", "collenchyma", "sclerenchyma", which are listed as separate tissue. This is related to the next point.

3.  In most texts, the cortex (and also the pith) are not considered "TISSUES", but are described as "regions". Although the terms "cortex" and "pith" are useful and widely used, they do not fit well into a classification. Perhaps these terms should become obsolete as has "ground tissue". If "cortical parenchyma" and "pith parenchyma" are added as types of parenchyma, then all tissues of pith and cortex (both stem and root) will be accounted for.

Thank you for your efforts,
Alison Roberts

name: Alison Roberts

email: aroberts at uri.edu

organization: University of Rhode Island

send_feedback: Send your feedback