Chapter 4: Plants

Parts of a Plant
Most plants have two main parts:
1.
Root System: This part of the plant is typically found below
the ground.3
2.
Shoot System: This part of the plant is typically found above
the ground.3
Root System
The roots of most plants grow in the soil.3 They perform two
main functions:
●
Anchorage: Roots anchor the plant firmly to the soil,
providing stability.3
●
Absorption: Roots absorb water and minerals from the soil.
Every root has numerous fine structures called root hairs that
help in absorbing water and dissolved minerals from the
soil.3 The absorbed water and minerals then enter the plant
through the roots and pass-through tubes in the stem to
reach all parts of the plant.3 The tubes that carry water are
called xylem, and the tubes that carry food are called
phloem.34
Types of Root Systems
There are two main types of root systems:
1.
Taproot System: This system consists of a thick main root
called the taproot, which grows vertically downwards.
Several fine roots arise from the taproot.3 Plants like mango,
bean, apple, spinach, turnip, and carrot have taproot
systems. Plants that have seeds with two cotyledons (dicots)
usually have taproots.3
2.
Fibrous Root System: This system does not have a main root.
Instead, it consists of many thin roots that grow from the
stem. Plants like turmeric, paddy, and grass have fibrous root
systems.5 Plants that have seeds with one cotyledon
(monocots) have fibrous roots.5
Modifications of Roots
In addition to their main functions, roots can be modified to
perform additional functions, such as:
1.
Storing Food: Roots of some plants are modified to store
food. For example, the roots of carrot, beetroot, and radish
are modified to store food, which makes them fleshy.5
2.
Providing Support: Roots of some plants are modified to
provide extra support to the plant. For example, prop roots
grow from the stem or branches of some trees, like the
banyan tree, and provide support.4 Indian rubber plants and
maize plants have roots that are modified to provide support;
these roots are called stilt roots.4
Shoot System
The main part of the shoot system is the stem. The stem
bears branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits.34 Leaves are
attached to the stem at points called nodes.4
Functions of the Stem
Support: The stem provides support to the plant, helping it to
stand upright.
Transport: The stem contains xylem and phloem, which
transport water and food throughout the plant. The xylem
transports water and dissolved minerals absorbed by the
roots to the other parts of the plant. The phloem carries food
prepared in the leaves to all the other parts of the plant.
Food Storage: In some plants, the stem is modified to store
food.
Modifications of the Stem
Storing Food: In some plants, the stem is modified to store
food. For example, in potato, turmeric, and ginger, the stem
grows underground and stores food. In the growing season,
buds grow from these underground stems and give rise to
new plants.
Storing Water: Stems of some plants are adapted to store
water and make food. For example, most cacti do not have
broad leaves, but their thick, green stems prepare food for
the plant. These stems also store water.
Providing Support: Stems of some plants are modified to
provide additional support. For instance, some plants, such as
gourd and grapevine, have weak stems. These stems have
thread-like structures called tendrils that coil around nearby
objects, helping the plant to grow upwards.7
The Bark
The trunk and the older branches of a tree have a tough
outermost covering called the bark. The bark:
Prevents loss of water.
Protects the inner parts of the plant.
Forms a barrier against harsh weather conditions and insects.
Did You Know?
If you observe the cut section of a tree trunk, you will find
rings inside the trunk. The wood in the trunk grows in about a
year to form one ring. By counting the number of rings, you
can know the number of years the tree has lived.
Leaf
Leaves are generally flat, thin, and green. They are usually
arranged on the stem in a way that allows each leaf to get
enough sunlight.
Parts of a Leaf
Leaf Stalk (Petiole): The part of the leaf that attaches it to a
stem or branch is called the leaf stalk or petiole.8
Leaf Blade (Lamina): The flat, green part of the leaf is called
the leaf blade or lamina.
Veins: Veins are present on the leaf blade. The xylem and
phloem tubes are present in the veins and are connected
with the xylem and phloem of the rest of the plant through
the petiole and stem.
Venation
The pattern of veins on a leaf is called venation. There are
two types of venations:
1.
Reticulate Venation: When the leaf veins form a branching
network, the venation is called reticulate venation. Reticulate
venation occurs in dicot plants.
2.
Parallel Venation: When the leaf veins are arranged in a
definite pattern, the arrangement of leaf veins on a leaf is
called parallel venation. Parallel venation occurs in monocot
plants.
Stomata
Leaves have tiny pores called stomata. Stomata:
Allow for the exchange of gases. Carbon dioxide enters, while
oxygen and water come out of the stomata.
Are essential for photosynthesis and transpiration.
Functions of the Leaf
Leaves play a crucial role in:
Photosynthesis: Leaves are the primary sites of
photosynthesis, the process by which plants make their food.
They contain a green pigment called chlorophyll that helps in
absorbing sunlight, which is necessary for photosynthesis.
Transpiration: Leaves release excess water from the plant in
the form of water vapour, a process called transpiration. This
helps in the upward movement of water in the plant. Many
plants close their stomata when they experience water
shortage.
Modifications of the Leaf
Leaves can also be modified to perform functions other than
photosynthesis and transpiration, including:
1.
Storing Food: In some plants, like onions, the part of the leaf
that grows above the ground is green in colour. This part of
the leaf prepares food. The lower portion of the leaf, which
grows underground, is white. This portion stores food, which
is why onions are fleshy.
2.
Reducing Water Loss: In desert plants, such as cacti, leaves
are modified into spines to reduce water loss through
transpiration. Cacti cannot afford to lose water because they
grow in deserts, where water is scarce. The leaves of cacti
are, therefore, modified into spines. Spines also protect the
plant from being eaten by animals.
3.
Trapping Insects: Some plants, called insectivorous plants,
grow in mineral-deficient soil. To fulfil their nutritional
requirements, these plants trap insects to obtain nutrients
from them. The leaves of these plants are modified to trap
insects. For example, the Venus flytrap and pitcher plant have
leaves modified to trap insects.
Flower
Flowering Plants
Plants that bear flowers are called flowering plants. Flowers
play a very important role in plant reproduction. The nectar
in flowers is a source of food for bees and butterflies.
There are also plants that do not bear flowers. These plants
are called non-flowering plants. Ferns, mosses, and pines are
some examples of non-flowering plants.
Structure of a Flower
A flower is attached to the plant by the flower stalk. A
complete flower has the following parts:
Petals: These are the most attractive part of the flower. They
are often brightly coloured to attract insects, which help in
pollination. Petals are also called carpel.
Sepals: These are green, leaf-like structures located outside
the petals. They protect the flower bud.
Stamen: This is the male part of the flower. The stamen has
pollen sacs that produce pollen grains, which contain the
male reproductive cells. Each stamen has a stalk called the
filament and a swollen top called the anther.
Pistil (Carpel): This is the female part of the flower. The pistil
is present at the centre of the flower. It is made up of three
parts: a sticky stigma at the top, a slender stalk called the
style in the middle, and a swollen ovary at the bottom. The
ovary contains ovules, which contain the female reproductive
cells.
Functions of a Flower
The function of a flower is reproduction.
Most flowers develop into fruits with seeds.
A dry, fully formed seed from a ripe fruit can form a new
plant if it has the necessary amounts of water, warmth, and
air.
Key Processes in Plants
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a process by which photosynthetic
organisms convert light energy into chemical energy to
synthesize carbohydrates. Most food items obtained from
plants contain carbohydrates.916 Plants use cellular
compounds to store the chemical energy they produce.13
Photosynthesis takes in carbon dioxide from the air and water
present in the leaves and releases oxygen.
Plants need water to live. Plants absorb water from the soil
through their roots. This water then moves upwards inside
the plant, reaching all its parts. The process by which water is
lost from the aerial parts of a plant in the form of water
vapour is called transpiration. Most of the water absorbed by
plants is lost through transpiration.