Chapter 21: Plant Organs and Organ Systems

1. Root develops from a portion of a seed embryo called hypocotyl. They:

nchor plants into soil
bsorb !ater and minerals from soil
Cond"ct !ater and dissolved minerals to and from the shoot
Root system entire mass of "ndergro"nd roots. There are 2 types:
#iff"se$%ibro"s root system consists of several long and slender roots
!ith n"mero"s& smaller and thread'li(e roots that branch from the main
roots. )onocots have this (ind of root system.
Tap Root System consists of a single main root& prod"cing smaller&
lateral roots. #icots have this (ind of root system.
2. *ongit"dinal Sections of the Roots
Root cap thimble'shaped mass of cells that covers and protects the root
tip. +t secretes m"cigel for:
Protection
*"brication
,ater absorption
-"trient absorption
)eristematic Region .one of cell"lar division
/longation Region cells "ndergo enlargement in length& cells do not
enlarge above this region
)at"ration Region region of differentiation
0. Cross'Sectional 1ie! of the Roots
/pidermis o"ter s"rface layer !hich protects and covers inner tiss"es&
e2cept root cap& contains c"ticle.
Corte2 irreg"larly shaped parenchyma cells !ith many intercell"lar
spaces& for food and !ater storage. +t has 0 layers:
3ypodermis o"termost layer of corte2& lined !ith s"berin& a
!a2y s"bstance that slo!s the o"t!ard movement of !ater and
n"trients from roots.
Storage parenchyma contains starch and separated by many
intercell"lar spaces.
/ndodermis innermost layer of the corte2& lined !ith a !a2y
s"bstance made of lignin and s"berin called Casparian Strip. This
layer prevents o"t!ard movement of !ater from inner tiss"es of
the endodermis.
Pericycle inner layer ne2t to the endodermis gives rise to secondary
roots. 4The central cylinder in the root that incl"des the pericycle& vasc"lar
tiss"es and pith is called the stele5
1asc"lar Tiss"es the 2ylem and the phloem. +n dicots& the 2ylem radiates
from the center and the phloem develops in the !edges bet!een the
spo(es of the 2ylem. +n monocots& the phloem and the 2ylem are arranged
alternately !ithin the pericycle& b"t s"rro"nd a core of parenchyma cells
called the pith.
+n some plants the vasc"lar cambi"m develops. +t acco"nts for secondary
gro!th.
6. )odified Roots
Storage Roots large and fleshy "ndergro"nd roots that contain a large
amo"nt of !ater and starch.
dventitio"s Roots develop from leaves or stems
Prop Roots o"tgro!ths that provide s"pport
erial Roots allo! plants to 7breath8 in places !ith lo! o2ygen content
Contractile Roots contact by shrin(ing deep into the soil& done d"ring
dro"ghts
Photosynthetic Roots contain chloroplasts and therefore perform
photosynthesis
9. The Stem
Shoot system incl"des plant parts above the root system
/picotyl str"ct"re that e2tends from the hypocotyl& !here primary stem
originates
-odes areas !here leaves and branches originate
+nternodes areas bet!een 2 nodes& for s"pport& !ater storage and fl"id transfer
from roots to leaves& and vice versa.
Soft$3erbaceo"s stems soft and green& have small diameters and covered !ith
epidermis& die in a year
,oody stems to"gh& not green& can gro! considerably in height and diameter
and can live for many years
Tree !oody stemmed plant !ith a single tr"n(
Shr"b !oody stemmed plant !ith several main stems of the same si.e&
smaller and shorter than trees.
:. /2ternal Str"ct"re of a ,oody Stem
*enticels tiny pores for gas e2change
*eaf scars mar(s left by fallen leaves
;"ds masses of meristematic tiss"es that may res"lt in gro!th in length
or prod"ction of leaves$flo!ers. They can be:
Terminal located at tip of stem
*ateral$a2illary located along side of a stem
%lo!er b"d if it prod"ces a flo!er
*eaf$branch b"d if a leaf$branch id prod"ced
-a(ed b"d if it is not covered by leafy scales
Covered b"d ' if it has leafy scales
ctive$dormant resting
;"d scales leafy str"ct"res that cover and protect the b"ds from drying
o"t
;"d scars mar(s left by fallen b"ds scales& form a ring aro"nd a t!ig.
<. +nternal Str"ct"re of a ,oody Stem
;ar( o"ter layer
Cor(
Cor( Cambi"m prod"ces cor( cells for protection
Corte2 stores n"trients
Phloem
,ood$2ylem inner part& contains the ann"al rings
nn"al ring ring of 2ylem tiss"es added d"ring 1 gro!ing season
Spring ,ood made of large 2ylem vessels and light in color
S"mmer ,ood made of smaller 2ylem vessels and dar( in
color
+n dicot !oody stems& s"ch as in roots& the pith in present. *aterally
e2tending o"t the pith& are vasc"lar rays. The vasc"lar cambi"m is fo"nd
bet!een the bar( and the !ood.
=. Str"ct"re of a 3erbaceo"s #icot Stem
/pidermis similar to !oody stems
Cor( absent
Corte2 thinner b"t similar to !oody stems
Chlorenchyma cells type of parenchyma cells& have chloroplasts and
ma(e "p the corte2
Stele same as !oody stems
>ylem and phloem larger in herbaceo"s dicot stems than in !oody
stems& separated by vasc"lar b"ndles
Cambi"m layer ' present& b"t little gro!th$activity
?. Str"ct"re of a 3erbaceo"s )onocot System
1asc"lar b"ndles scattered thro"gho"t the stem
Cambi"m layer absent
Closed b"ndles vasc"lar b"ndles of a herbaceo"s monocot stem
Open ;"ndles vasc"lar b"ndles in dicot stems
1@. )odified Stems
bovegro"nd )odified Stems
R"nners$Stolons gro! hori.ontally or along the soil s"rface for
reprod"ction
Tendrils$t!ining shoots coil aro"nd obAects to help s"pport
plant body
Cladodes$cladophylls perform photosynthesis
Thorns protection from gra.ing animals
S"cc"lent stems store large amo"nts of !ater
Bndergro"nd )odified Stems
Rhi.omes gro! hori.ontally near the s"rface& for reprod"ction
and food storage
;"lbs fleshy& overlapping leaves for storage& reprod"ction and
adaptation d"ring "nfavorable conditions
Corms gro! vertically !ith thin leaves on the s"rface for storage&
adaptation and reprod"ction
T"bers ro"nded and fleshy for storage and reprod"ction
11. *eaves maAor sites of photosynthesis
12. /2ternal Str"ct"re of a *eaf
;lade for absorption
*eaf ape2 tip of leaf
Petiole$stal( attached to node of stem 4leaves !itho"t petioles are calles
sessile leaves5
)idrib central vein
*eaf margin edges of a leaf
Stip"les tiny flaps of tiss"es& perform photosynthesis and ens"re
pollination
10. 1ariation in *eaves
rrangement of leaves
Spiral one leaf attached to each node
Opposite t!o leaves attached to each node
,horled three$more leaves attached to each node
-"mber of leaves attached to the petiole
Simple single leaf blade attached to a petiole
Compo"nd leaves several leaflets attached to petiole
Pinnately compo"nd leaflets are attached along a central
stal(
Palmately compo"nd leaflets radiate from a common
point$petiole
;ipinnately compo"nd leaflets are f"rther s"bdivided into
smaller leaflets
*eaf venation$arrangement of veins
Parallel veins are eC"idistant and perpendic"lar to midrib
-etted main veins that rebranch to veinlets& forming a net!or(
pattern
Pinnately netted netted venation !ith a single midrib
Palmately netted several main veins e2tending from end of
the petiole to the leaf margin
Shape of *eaf )argin
/ntire smooth edge
Serrate sa! toothed edge
*obed has indentions
16. +nternal Str"ct"re of a *eaf
/pidermis
)esophyll contains chlorophyll rich cells
Palisade layer belo! "pper epidermis& consists of vertically
elongated cells
Spongy Tiss"es consists of hori.ontally elongated cells
19. )odified leaves
;"d scales overlapping leaves that protect internal b"d
;"lb scales for storage
Tendrils climbing and clinging to other obAect for s"pport
Spines red"ce rate of transpiration& protection from gra.ing animals
;racts colorf"l& attracts pollinators
+nsect'trapping leaves attract& capt"re and digest insects
Reprod"ctive leaves prod"ce ne! plants from petioles or marginal
notches