Structure of Flowering

Plants
External structure of a flowering plant
-There are about 300,000 species of flowering plants and these are called
angiosperms.

-Generally these plants are composed of an underground root system and an

overground shoot system.

Types of roots

Tap roots: consist of a main root that develops from the initial root that
emerged from the seed.

Fibrous roots: form when the radicle dies away to leave a group of equal
sized roots. They are most common in monocots
External structure of a flowering plant
Adventitious roots: are roots that do not develop from the radicle.

Functions of roots:

-anchor the plant in the soil

-absorb water and mineral salts from the soil

-transport the absorbed materials to the shoots

-store food in some plants e.g. carrots and turnips

External structure of a flowering plant
Zones in a root

Zone of protection: the root cap protects the root cells.

Zone of cell production: meristems (plant tissue capable of mitosis) allow

plants to grow. Apical meristems are found in the root tip and in the shoot tip.

Zone of elongation: when new cells are formed by the meristem they are
very small. Plant growth regulators stimulate the cells to grow.
External structure of a flowering plant
Zone of differentiation: in this region, the elongated cells, which are all
similar, develop into different types of tissues;

Dermal tissue which protects the plant

Ground tissue which is found between the dermal and vascular tissues

Vascular tissue which transports materials

External structure of a flowering plant
Stems
-The stem is the main part of the shoot.

Herbaceous plants do not contain wood, and are usually soft and green.

Woody plants contain wood, are hard and brown.

-The stem carries leaves, which emerge from points called nodes.

-The tip of the stem has a terminal or apical bud, which causes the stem to
grow.

-The axil is the angle between a leaf and a stem.

Stems
-The lenticel is an opening for gas exchange found in the stems of plants such
as trees and shrubs.

Functions of stems:

-support the aerial parts of the plant

-transport water and minerals from the roots to the leaves and flowers

-transport food made in the leaves to the roots

-carry out photosynthesis

Leaves
Venation: the pattern of veins in a leaf.

Parallel venation: means the veins run alongside each other. This pattern is
found in most monocots eg daffodils

Net/Reticulate venation: means that the veins form a branching network

throughout the lamina. This pattern is most common in dicots eg rose.
Leaves
Functions of leaves:

-leaves make food

-leaves exchange gases with the atmosphere

-leaves lose water which allows fresh water to be taken in

-leaves store food

Tissues in flowering plants
Dermal tissue:

-forms the covering layer of the plant. Its main function is to protect the plant.

-the epidermis of leaves and most stems in coated with a waxy cuticle to
prevent water loss from the plant.

Ground tissue:

-occupies the area between the dermal and vascular tissues in a plant.

-it carries out a range of function such as photosynthesis, storage of food and
gives strength and support to the plant.
 Tissues in flowering plants
Vascular tissue:

-consists of the xylem and phloem.

-main function of vascular tissue is to transport materials throughout the plant

Xylem: made up of 2 types of cells, vessels and tracheids. Xylem is dead tissue.

-xylem transports water and mineral salts from the roots to the leaves.

Phloem: mainly composed of sieve tubes and companion cells and is a living
tissue

-phloem transport food from the leaves to the rest of the plant.
Monocots
Flowering plants are divided into 2 categories: monocots and dicots

Monocots have:

-one seed leaf or cotyledon

-long, narrow leaves with parallel veins

-scattered vascular bundles in the stem

-flowering parts arranged in multiples of 3

Example daffodils
Dicots
Dicots have:

-two seed leaves or cotyledons

-broad leaves with a network of veins

-vascular bundles arranged in a ring in the stem

-flowering parts arranged in multiples of 4 or 5

Example oak trees

Summary Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNGn1qQCn4c