Structure and Function of a

flowering plant
&
Photosynthesis

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 Parts of the plant (1)
axil - the angle between the upper side of the stem and a leaf, branch, or petiole.
axillary bud - a bud that develops in the axil.
flower - the reproductive unit of angiosperms.
flower stalk - the structure that supports the flower.
internode - the area of the stem between any two adjacent nodes.

Leaf - an outgrowth of a plant that grows from a node in the stem. Most leaves are flat and
contain chloroplasts; their main function is to convert energy, from sunlight into chemical energy
(food) through photosynthesis.
Node - the part of the stem of a plant from which a leaf, branch, or aerial root grows; each plant
has many nodes. Label the two lower nodes (the first and second nodes) on the plant diagram.
Petiole - a leaf stalk; it attaches the leaf to the plant.
Root - a root is a plant structure that obtains food and water from the soil, stores energy, and
provides support for the plant. Most roots grow underground.

stem - (also called the axis) is the main support of the plant.

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Parts of the plant (1)

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 Roots (1)
• Roots generally grow downwards into the soil and upwards. Roots do
not bear leaves and therefore no nodes are present. Two kinds of
root systems can be distinguished in flowering plants: tap root
systems and adventitious root systems.
• Usually dicotyledons (like red beans) posses tap root systems and
monocotyledons adventitious root systems.

• Tap Root System: The primary root grows vertically down into the soil
in the tap root system. Later lateral or secondary roots grow from this
at an acute angle outwards and downwards, and from these other
branches may arise. The main or primary root is known as the tap
root; together with its many branch roots it forms a tap root system
e.g. the bean.

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 Roots (2)
Adventitious Root System: The primary root usually dies at an early
stage and is replaced by numerous roots that develop from the
stem. These roots, which develop from the stem, are equal in size.
They are known as a adventitious roots, which give rise to branch or
lateral roots and form an adventitious root system, e.g. the mealie.
Functions of the Root
• Roots anchor the plant in the soil.
• Roots absorb water and mineral salts from the soil.
• Roots may store food.
• Roots form a passage way for water and dissolved substances from
the root into the stem and also for foods from the stem down into
the root.

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 Stems (1)
• Stems are usually above ground organs and grow
towards light and away from the ground.
• The main stem develops from the plumule of the
embryo, while lateral branches develop from
auxillary buds. In normal stems clearly defined
internodes and nodes can be distinguished, the
latter being the regions where the leaves are
attached. Depending on the hardness of the stem
one can also distinguish between herbaceous and
woody stems.
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 Leaves (1)
• Leaves provide trees with all their food because they turn sunlight into
food energy. Chlorophyll makes this energy transformation possible. 
Leaves also make the oxygen in the air that we breathe.
• Chlorophyll is a pigment found in the cells of leaves which is formed
only in the presence of light and is the substance that colors plants
green. Chlorophyll is contained in chloroplasts and has the property of
capturing light energy.
 
• The process of Photosynthesis (the process by which plants make
sugar from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide):
• Sunlight shines through the top of the leaf and reaches the next layer
of cells.  The light energy is trapped by the chlorophyll in the
chloroplasts.

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 Leaves (2)
• There are three main parts to a leaf:
The base which is the point at which the leaf is joined to the
stem.
The stalk or petiole is the thin section joining the base to the
lamina - it is generally cylindrical or semicircular in form.
The lamina or leaf blade is the wide part of the leaf
• Leaves can be of many different shapes:
Primarily, leaves are divided into simple - a single leaf blade
with a bud at the base of the leafstem; or compound - a leaf
with more than one blade.  All blades are attached to a single
leafstem.  Where the leafstem attaches to the twig there is a
bud.

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• Leaves may be arranged on the stem either in an alternate arrangement -
leaves that are staggered or not placed directly across from each other on
the twig; or in an opposite arrangement - 2 or 3 leaves that are directly
across from each other on the same twig; or in a whorled arrangement —
three or more leaves attach at each point or node on the stem.

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 Photosynthesis
• Green plants make their own food by the process of photosynthesis (photo
means light and synthesis means putting together). They DO NOT get their
food from the soil.
• Plants are autotrophs – they make their own food using the raw materials
carbon dioxide and water. Simple compounds taken from their
environments. They combine these simple compounds to make a more
complex compound – energy – rich glucose. To do this they must trap light
energy from the sun, and store it in the sugar molecules. The light energy is
trapped by the green pigment, chlorophyll, which is found in plants’ leaves.
Oxygen is produced as a by-product. 
• Raw materials enter the plant in different ways. Water is absorbed into the
plant from the soil. Carbon dioxide from the air enters the plant through
tiny pores called stomata found mainly on the underside of the leaves. The
oxygen leaves the plant through the stomata.

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From Discover Science, Scott, Foresman, & Co., 1993

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