plant structure

• Parts of a Plant

  • Roots
  • Stem
  • Leaves
  • Flowers
• Roots


  • The “mouth” of the plant
  • Most important part of a plant
  • How water and mineral get into the plant
  • Anchor the plant in place
  • Store sugars and carbohydrates that plant uses to carry out other functions
• Stem


  • Takes over after root sends water and minerals into the plant
  • Special cells called phloem and xylem that move water and nutrients
  • Xylem moves water and minerals up to the leaves
  • After leaves do their job, the phloem moved the food (sugar) down to feed the plant
  • Stems also provide support for the plant allowing the leaves to reach the sunlight that they need to produce food
  • Where the leaves join the stem is called the node
  • The space in between the leaves and stem is called the internode
• Leaves


  • The food factory
  • Come in many different shapes and sizes
  • Leaves are made to catch light and have openings to allow water and air to come and go
  • Outer layer has waxy coating called a cuticle which protects the leaves
  • Veins carry water and nutrients within the leaf
  • Where water and minerals are converted into food for the plant done by photosynthesis
  • Sugar is the source of food used by most plants
• Photosynthesis is the process where carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll (green pigment) and light energy are changed into glucose (sugar)
• Sugar is the source of food used by most plants
• Flowers are important in making seeds
• Fertilization


  The process to make seeds
• Petals attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and bats
• Reasons why Plants Adapt

  • Protection
  • Reproduction
  • Climate and Location
• Protection mechanisms

  • Thorns
  • Spikes
  • Poisonous Leaves
• Flowers are colorful to attract insects and birds to their plants to get seeds
• Plants with pollen are easily attached to insects or carried by the wind
• Plants will grow bigger leaves to gather more sunlight in colder climates
• In colder winters, many plants will become dormant (like hibernation but for plants)
• Plants live shorter lives and die off by winter time in colder climates
• In dry climates, plants have spines to discourage animals from eating plants for water
• In dry climates, plants have waxy coating on stems and leaves to help reduce water loss
• In dry climates, plants have long root systems that spread out wide or go deep into the ground to absorb water
• In dry climates, some plants, called succulents, store water in their stems or leaves
• In dry climates, some plants have no leaves or small seasonal leaves that only grow after it rains to reduce water loss during photosynthesis
• Guard cells regulate the opening and closing of stomata based on environmental conditions such as light intensity and humidity.
• Stomata are small openings on the surface of leaves, stems, and other organs that allow gases to enter or exit the leaf.
• The epidermis is the outermost layer of cells that covers all parts of the plant.
• Epidermal cells can be specialized for functions like protection, absorption, storage, or gas exchange.
• Trichomes are hair-like structures found on the surfaces of many plants.