Structures and Functions

of Plants
Reading Packet

Goals:
– Identify structures and functions of plants
– Describe how these structures and functions allow them to survive

Set Up your Note Taker.

Take notes as you read.
What is a plant structure?
– Plants have internal and external structures that allow them
to survive within their environment.
– A structure is a part of the plant that does a certain job. A
function is what the part is used for.
– These structures provide a means for protection, support,
food, and reproduction.
– Plant adaptations make it possible for plants to live and meet
their needs within their habitat.

How Plants Adapt: Roots

• Roots take in water for the plant.
• Roots in dry and sandy areas can
have long roots to get to water
stored deep in the ground.
• Roots in deserts have roots near the
surface to get rainwater before it
evaporates.
• Plants that live in water have
floating roots that do not attach to
the bottom.
• Roots in grasslands have deep roots so they can survive wildfires.

How Plants Adapt: Stems

• Stems carry water throughout the plant and help keep the plant
upright.
• In dry and sandy places, plants have fleshy stems to store water.
• In the desert, plant stems have a waxy surface to hold in water.
• In rainforests, trees have smooth, slippery bark that allows vines to
grow without pulling bark off the tree.
• In temperate areas, trees have a thick bark to conserve water and
for protection.
• In grasslands, plant stems are flexible to allow for movement.
• Plants that grow in water have flexible stems to allow the plant to
flow with the current. They also have hollow spaces in their stems so the plant floats
near the surface for sunlight.
How Plants Adapt: Leaves
• Leaves use the sun’s energy to help make food for the
plant.
• Some leaves roll up in dry weather.
• Spines are leaves that are a defense against herbivores.
• Needles resist wind damage.
• In the desert, small leaves or spines on plants conserve
water.
• In the rainforest, leaves have a slide shape to allow water
to run off.
• In the grasslands, leaves are narrow to allow for movement so they don’t tare with the
wind.

How Plants Adapt: Seeds

Plants make seeds that can grow into new plants, but if
the seeds just fall to the ground under the parent plant,
they might not get enough sun, water or nutrients from
the soil. Because plants cannot walk around and take
their seeds to other places, they have developed other
methods to disperse (move) their seeds. The most
common methods are wind, water, and animals.

Review your notes.

 How do roots adapt to their
What part of the plant holds the environment?
plant to the ground and carries
water to the stem?

Illustrate one way

seeds are dispersed
from a plant.

Name 2 functions
of stems that are
Why is sunlight
important for the
important to plants?
plant’s survival.

1.

2.
Structures and Functions of Plants
Structures and Functions of
Name Plants

Date
Note Taker
Teacher

Plants and animals have internal

and external ____________
that help them survive within an
environment.

Outside
(back)