Parts of the plant and their functions

Importance of plants
Without plants life on earth would not exist

Plants:
Primary source of food for people and animals Produce oxygen help to keep us cool renew the air

Plants:
slow wind speed provide a home for wildlife beautify surroundings perfume the air furnish building materials and fuel

Parts of a plant
Four basic parts
leaves stems roots flowers

Leaves
the food factory of the plant produce the food used by the plant or stored for later use

Shape and size of leaves

vary among plants used for identification of plants

Leaf arrangement
alternate opposite whorled
arranged in a circle around the stem

External leaf structure

petiole - leaf stalk leaf blade (leaf)
has veins forms structural framework of the leaf

Midrib
large center vein from which all other leaf veins extend

Margins
edges of leaves assists in plant identification

Internal leaf structure

epidermis
skin of the leaf single layer of cells protects leaf from loss of too much moisture

Guard Cells
open and close the small pore on the underside of the leaf

Stomates
allow the plant to breathe and transpire
give off moisture

Chloroplasts
contain chlorophyll located inside the food making cells

Photosynthesis
process by which CO2 and H2O in the presence of light are converted to sugar and oxygen

Chemical formula
6CO2 + 6H2O -----> in reaction with sunlight and chlorophyll ------> C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6O2

food
manufactured in the leaves moves downward through the stem to the roots
used by the plant stored in stem or root and leaf in the form of sugar, starch or protein.

Respiration
plants respire 24 hours a day consume O2 and give off CO2 plants produce more O2 through ps. Than they consume during respiration and growth.

Stems
have two main functions
movement of water and minerals from the roots upward and movement of manufactured food down

Stem functions
support of leaves and reproductive structures

Stems also
used for food storage and reproduction of plants involving cuttings Green stems manufacture food just as leaves do

External Stem Structure

lenticels- breathing pores bud scale scars-indicate where terminal bud has been located previous year.

Leaf Scars
shows where leaf was attached Distance between the two represents one year of growth.

Internal Stem Structure

phloem- bark, carries manufactured foods down. Xylem- wood, carries water and minerals up. Cambium- separates the 2 and produces all new cells. Characteristic of dicots

Internal Stem Structure

dicot- dicotyledon, a plant with 2 seed leaves

Monocot
Monocotyledon - a plant with one seed leaf. Have vascular bundles, contain both xylem and phloem in each small bundle

Monocot
stems have no cambium cells enlarge to create size of mature stem

Economic Importance
food building materials

Roots
Usually underground functions: anchor plant and hold upright absorb water and minerals form soil and conduct to stem store food, & propagation

Root Structure
internal similar to stems older roots have xylem, phloem and cambian

external
root cap produces continuous supply of new cells protects roots as they push through soil

Structure
root hairs absorb moisture and minerals small roots

Functions other than water and mineral absorption

cash crops for food carrots beets radishes sweet potatoes
propagation

Type of root systems

fibrous-grasses easier transplanting shorter, smaller, more compact lap root-carrot longer and fewer roots

Flowers, Fruits, and Seeds

pollination- color of flower attracts insects to fertilize flower
beginning of fruit and seed formation

fruits and seed are attractive to birds who eat and spread seeds.
Reproduces plant some seeds carried on animals coats

Parts of the Flower

differ in size, shape, and color, some basic parts sepal green leaf-like part, covers and protects bud before opening

Petals
are actually leaves usually bright colors to attract pollinating insects.

Parts of the Flower

stamens male part of flower has two parts filament-stalk

Anther
anther- sac-like structure on top of filament, contains pollen

Parts of the Flower

Pistil - female part in the center of flower has three parts

Pistil
three parts stigma - top - sticky style - tube leading from stigma to ovary

Ovary
egg cells develop here grows to become fruit or seedcoat

Types of Flowers
complete contains 4 main parts

Incomplete
does not have all 4 main parts

Perfect
has stamens and pistils

Imperfect
lacks stamens or pistils

Types of Flowers
monoecious stamens and pistils are found in separate flowers on the same plant ex: Corn

dioecious
male or staminate flowers found on one plant, female or pistilate flowers on another plant ex: holly