Plants are living organisms that usually grow in soil. Plants prepare their own food through photosynthesis and food stored in them becomes directly or in-directly becomes source of food for all living organisms. During photosynthesis plants utilize carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
Plants have many parts, each part performs their own functions. The plant parts that appear above the soil levels are known as shoot systems and parts underneath the ground level are called the root system.
Roots are a very important part of the plant, which anchors the plant strongly in the soil. They absorb water, minerals and nutrients from the soil, synthesize plant growth regulators and in some plants they act as a reserve to store food.
In monocot plants, the primary root is replaced by many thin fibrous root systems. These are called fibrous root systems. In some plants root develops from other parts of the plant such as stems or leaves. These kinds of roots are called adventurous root systems. Eg: Sugarcane’s adventurous root rises from the stem.
Plants that grow in backwater areas or estuarine ecosystems have a root system that grows upwards from the soil. This modified root system helps plants get oxygen it needs for respiration. Eg: Mangroves.
Nodes are where buds grow into leaves, stems and flowers. Internodes are the parts of the stem between the nodes. In most plants stems are above the ground, in few plants such as potato, sweet potato are found below the ground. These modified stems are called tubers.
Support: Primary function of the stem is to hold the leaves, flowers and fruits. Along with the root system, a stem anchors the plants into the soil and helps them stand straight.
Transportation: It is the part which transports water, minerals and nutrients from the root and prepared food from leaves to other parts of the plant such as flowers and fruits.
Storage: Stems are one of the important storage points of the plant, where prepared food in the form of starch is stored.
Photosynthesis: Green leaves prepared food in the form of starch by using sunlight, carbon dioxide and water.
Transpiration: Leaves play a crucial role in removal of excess water from the plant through tiny pores which are called stomata.
Reproduction: In some plants leaves help in vegetative reproduction. For example Bryophyllum commonly called Patharchatta produced new plantlets from the buds along the margin on in leaves. These plantlets can detach from the leaf, develop its own root system and grow into entirely new plants.
Petals: Petals are the colorful part of a flower which attracts bees, insects and birds.
Sepals: Sepals are green leafy parts of the flowers situated under the petals which hold and provide support to the flower buds and protects petals from damage.
Stamens: This is the male reproductive part of the flower consisting of anther and filament.
Pistil: This is the male reproductive part of the flower consisting of stigma, style and ovary.
Seeds contain everything a young plant needs to start growing. Seeds contain an embryo (embryo is a young and underdeveloped plant inside a seed) along with the stored food which is needed for an embryo when they germinate. At the correct temperature, water and air seeds will germinate and grow into new plants.
Plants have many parts, each part performs their own functions. The plant parts that appear above the soil levels are known as shoot systems and parts underneath the ground level are called the root system.
What are the Parts of Plants
Plants have two major organ system: A) the shoot system and B) the root system. A typical plant body consists of three parts 1) roots, 2) stems and 3) leaves. Apart from these basic plant parts flowering plants contain 4) flowers, 5) fruits.1. Roots
Roots are an important part of the plant which appears below the soil level. The root system consists of a primary root and its branches called secondary roots. Secondary roots may further branch into tertiary roots and several other small roots. All these individual roots together form a root system.Roots are a very important part of the plant, which anchors the plant strongly in the soil. They absorb water, minerals and nutrients from the soil, synthesize plant growth regulators and in some plants they act as a reserve to store food.
In monocot plants, the primary root is replaced by many thin fibrous root systems. These are called fibrous root systems. In some plants root develops from other parts of the plant such as stems or leaves. These kinds of roots are called adventurous root systems. Eg: Sugarcane’s adventurous root rises from the stem.
Plants that grow in backwater areas or estuarine ecosystems have a root system that grows upwards from the soil. This modified root system helps plants get oxygen it needs for respiration. Eg: Mangroves.
2. Stems
The stem is the structure which forms the core structure of the shoot system. Matured stems have a bark that is brown in color and younger stems are green in color. It provides the basic support for leaves, fruits,and flowers. The stem is divided into two different parts; nodes and internodes.Nodes are where buds grow into leaves, stems and flowers. Internodes are the parts of the stem between the nodes. In most plants stems are above the ground, in few plants such as potato, sweet potato are found below the ground. These modified stems are called tubers.
Support: Primary function of the stem is to hold the leaves, flowers and fruits. Along with the root system, a stem anchors the plants into the soil and helps them stand straight.
Transportation: It is the part which transports water, minerals and nutrients from the root and prepared food from leaves to other parts of the plant such as flowers and fruits.
Storage: Stems are one of the important storage points of the plant, where prepared food in the form of starch is stored.
3. Leaves
Leaves are green, flat structures that usually grow from the stem. The scientific part for the flat surface of leaves is called lamina. The leaf which attaches to the stem is petiole. Leaves contain chlorophyll that helps plants create their own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide and water. Primarily leaves has three major functions;Photosynthesis: Green leaves prepared food in the form of starch by using sunlight, carbon dioxide and water.
Transpiration: Leaves play a crucial role in removal of excess water from the plant through tiny pores which are called stomata.
Reproduction: In some plants leaves help in vegetative reproduction. For example Bryophyllum commonly called Patharchatta produced new plantlets from the buds along the margin on in leaves. These plantlets can detach from the leaf, develop its own root system and grow into entirely new plants.
Flowers and Fruits of Plants
4. Flowers
Flowers are the reproductive part of many plants. They contain male and female reproductive organs that work together to create fruit and seeds. Flowers are bright colors, have a strong scent and have a sweet nectar to attract pollinators like bees, butterflies and small birds. A flower has four major parts, namely,Petals: Petals are the colorful part of a flower which attracts bees, insects and birds.
Sepals: Sepals are green leafy parts of the flowers situated under the petals which hold and provide support to the flower buds and protects petals from damage.
Stamens: This is the male reproductive part of the flower consisting of anther and filament.
Pistil: This is the male reproductive part of the flower consisting of stigma, style and ovary.
5. Fruits
Fruit begins to form after a flower is pollinated and fertilized. Fruits develop around the seeds and protect them as they grow. Fruits can also help seeds spread, animals or birds might eat the fruit and drop the seeds somewhere which rises as a new plant.Seeds contain everything a young plant needs to start growing. Seeds contain an embryo (embryo is a young and underdeveloped plant inside a seed) along with the stored food which is needed for an embryo when they germinate. At the correct temperature, water and air seeds will germinate and grow into new plants.