PLANTS: structure and function

Plants: Grouped by characteristics Vascular

Three main parts: roots, stems and leaves Roots can be different sizes:

Fibrous and tap roots Storage roots; beets, carrots, sweet potatoes and turnips

Roots have different functions: anchoring the plant, taking in water and minerals, and store food.

Nonvascular Simple; most grow in moist places No vascular tissues.

Vascular Plants: Stems Function of stems

Support, transport of water & food Most stems grow upward Some stems grow sideward

Types of stems Green Woody

Transport of materials Xylem & phloem

Vascular Plants: Leaves Leaves come in variety of shapes and sizes Leaves are arranged in different ways

What do plants do?

All plants are alike in one way. They need three things in order

to surviveWatercarbon dioxideenergy from sunlight

What do you suppose the plants use these things for?

Classify – to sort into groups based on similarities and differences

They turn it into sugar!photosynthesis – a process by which plants change light energy from the sun and use it to make sugar

Plants and some protists conduct photosynthesis.

PhotosynthesisA movie of photosynthesis

chlorophyll – the green substance found in plants that traps energy from the sun and gives plants their green color

carbon dioxide – a gas found in air

As a plant makes sugar, oxygen is released When the plant uses the sugar, water and carbon dioxide are released.

How Do Plants Get Energy

Plant leaves change lightenergy into energy the plant can use.

Stomata are tiny holes on the bottom of the leaf that let air (CO2.) in and (O2)out.

They get sunlight, water, and air (CO2.)

The veins of a leaf bring water and minerals to the leaf from the stems and roots.

Roots get water and minerals directly from the soil.

Because of this processScientists are able to classify living things

by the way they get their food. Plants are producers (autotrophs)

producer – it is a living thing that uses sunlight to make sugar. This sugar feeds others.

Plants are classified by characteristics.

Plants that make seeds Plants that do not make seeds

Flowering Plants

Conifers Ferns Mosses

Plants reproduce differently

Reproduce – it means “to make more of the same kind”

a protective covering that surrounds the seed

anchor the plant in place and absorb water and other minerals from the soil.

carries water and food to the rest of the plant.

makes the plant's food.

makes seeds.

Some flowering plants are

dicot seed – a seed that has two seed leaves that contain stored food

monocot seed – a seed that has one seed leaf and stored food outside the seed leaf