Names: Sally Marron, Samantha Martin, Herlyn Sabulaan Date: November 2, 2022

Course & Year: BS-Math 1

Activity 7: The Angiosperm Plant Body

I. Introduction

The architecture of plants is dynamic and continuously shaped by the plant’s genetically
directed patterns and their responses to the environment. The morphology of plants reflects their
evolutionary history as terrestrial organisms. The plant body is differentiated into two organs: a
subterranean root system having the root as its organ and an aerial shoot system consisting of the
organs, namely, stems, leaves, and flowers. The two systems are connected by vascular tissue that
is continuous throughout the plant and transports materials between the roots and shoots. Neither
system can live without the other. Lacking chloroplasts and living in the dark, roots would starve
without sugar and other organic nutrients produced from photosynthetic tissues of the shoot
system. Conversely, the shoot system depends on water and minerals absorbed from the soil by
roots.

Angiosperms are characterized by the possession of flowers and fruits. By far, angiosperms are
the most diverse and widespread group of plants. Angiosperms consist of two classes namely
monocots, named for their single cotyledon, and dicots, which have two cotyledons.

II. Objectives

At the end of the exercise, the students should be able to:

1. Recognize the organ system and organs constituting the systems;

2. Name the structures of the roots, stem, and leaf in a monocot and a dicot plant;
3. Compare the external structures of a monocot and dicot plant;
4. Identify the structures of a regular and irregular flower;
5. Identify the different parts of the fruit and seed.
III. Materials
Entire fruiting plant of Zea mays L. (corn)

Entire fruiting plant Solanum melongena L.

(eggplant)
 Flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.

Fruits of Cocos nucifera L.

Any orchid or bean flower

Germinated bean and corn seeds

IV. Procedure
1. Examine Zea mays L. (corn), a monocot plant and Solanum melongena L. (eggplant), a
dicot plant in their fruiting stage. Compare the organ systems and organs comprising the
plant body. The root system grows down into the soil and the shoot system grows above
the ground. Look at the roots of each plant. Distinguish and label the primary, secondary,
and tertiary roots. Take note of the type of root system present in the specimen. A tap
root system consists of one large vertical root (primary root) which produces many
smaller lateral roots (secondary and tertiary roots). A fibrous root system consists of a
mat of threadlike roots that spread out below the soil surface. Examine also the fine root
hairs present in the roots.
2. Examine also the stem of corn and eggplant. Label the node, which is the point where the
leaf is attached. The distance between nodes is called the internode. Identify and label
also the terminal bud and the axillary bud.
3. Look at the leaf. It is the lateral extension of the stem. Examine the corn leaf. Identify and
draw the leaf sheath, ligule, and blade or lamina. Identify the venation pattern present in
corn. A typical dicot leaf consists of a blade or lamina, petiole, and stipule. Draw and label
the structures in the eggplant lead. Identify the venation pattern.
4. Examine the flowers of corn. Identify the tassel (male inflorescence) and the ear (female
inflorescence). Examine the flowers of the eggplant. Identify and draw the peduncle
sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils.
5. Examine the gumamela flower and identify the different parts such as the flower stalk
(peduncle), receptacle, sepals (calyx), petals (corolla), stamens (androecium), and pistil
(gynoecium). Do the same with the orchid or bean flower. Identify which specimens
represent a regular flower and which represents an irregular flower. In an irregular flower,
the petals are specialized as standard, wing, and keel. Draw and label the parts of the
whole gumamela and orchid or bean flower. Make a cross-section of the ovary of the
gumamela flower and identify the parts. Examine the stamen by distinguishing the anther
and the filament.
6. Cut a coconut fruit in a longitudinal section. Draw the halved portions and label the
following parts: the pericarp it the outermost part of the fruit, which is differentiated into
three layers: exocarp (thin and outermost layer), mesocarp (the fibrous middle layer), and
the endocarp (stony layer). The meat portion of the fruit is the endosperm and the
rounded structure which digests the food stored in the endosperm is the cotyledon.
7. Study the parts of the germinated bean seed or corn seed. Identify the seed coat,
cotyledon, endosperm, embryo, and radicle. Draw and label the different parts of the
seed.
V. RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS.
1. Draw the plant body of Zea mays L. and Solanum melongena L. and label the organ
systems and the different organs.
A. Plant body of Zea mays L.
PART OF A CORN:
FLOWER
LEAF
STEM
ROOT
B. Plant body of Solanum melongena L.

PART OF AN EGGPLANT:
FLOWER
LEAF
STEM
ROOT
C. Parts of a Zea mays L. leaf D. Parts of a Solanum melongena L. leaf
 2. Differentiate a monocot plant from a dicot plant in terms of the following
characteristics:

Characteristics Monocot Dicot

Number of Cotyledon 1 2
Type of Root System Fibrous Tap root
Leaf Venation Parallel Reticulate
Stem diameter 2-4.5 cm 6-9 cm
Number of floral parts 3 4 or 5

3. Differentiate a regular flower from an irregular flower

An irregular flower has petals and sepals that are not all the same size and shape, and
they are positioned asymmetrically, or irregularly, around the floral axis. The vertical
axis of the flower is typically the only plane along which the uneven blossoms can be
split. Sometimes the blooms may be totally asymmetrical (bilateral symmetry).
Orchidaceous is an illustration of an atypical flower. The symmetric flower is defined by
the regular flower, whereas the asymmetric flower is defined by the irregular flower.

The calyx, corolla, androecium, and gynoecium are symmetrically placed in whorls
around the floral axis in a regular flower. There are multiple separating planes in typical
flowers. This indicates that regardless of the plane we cut the blossom along, it will yield
equal halves. Diagonal symmetry Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is one illustration of a typical
blossom.

4. Draw the flowers of gumamela and orchid/bean, Label the parts completely.

A. Flower of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.

 B. Flower of orchid or bean

5. What becomes of the following parts after fertilization?

Ovary
- Fruit
Ovary wall
Fruit wall
Locule
- One chamber, or locule, exists within each ovary. One or more ovules are
housed within a locule.
Ovule

- Seed

Intiguments
- Seed coat
6. Draw the ovary, fruits, and seeds. Label the specific parts.

A. Cross-section of ovary

B. Longitudinal section of Cocos nucifera L. fruit

 C. Parts of a germinated bean/corn seed

VI. Guide questions:

1. What plant group has a tap roots system?

Angiosperms are the most diverse and widespread group of plants. One of its classes is
the dicotyledon, which has a tap root system. Commonly found in plants including pine
trees, dandelion, eggplant, carrots, and the like.

2. Does angiosperm possess vascular tissue? Name the vascular tissues present in vascular
plants.

Vascular plants have grown an advanced network of vascular systems all over their
bodies. The xylem and phloem of vascular tissues are responsible for conveying water
and integrating food, respectively.

3. What organ of the plant body performs the following function?

i. Photosynthesis- leaves
ii. Absorption- root system
iii. Sexual reproduction- flowers
iv. Transpiration- leaf stomata

4. Why do woody dicot stems increase in diameter?

The activity of the lateral meristems is what causes the increase in stem thickness that
comes from secondary growth. The vascular cambium is in charge of developing woody
tissue and expanding the diameter of stems and roots.
 5. Differentiate accessory from essential parts of a flower?

The two categories of flower structures are essential organs and accessory organs. The
reproductive structures, which include the stamens (male) and pistils (female), are the
vital organs. The sepals and petals, which encircle and shield the vital organs, are the
accessory organs.

6. What part of the seed provides food for the growing embryo?

Cotyledon, a seed leaf located inside the seed embryo. Cotyledons may be a source of
nutritional reserves or they may assist the embryo in metabolizing nutrition stored
elsewhere in the seed. They assist in providing the nutrition a plant embryo needs to
germinate and establish itself as a photosynthetic organism.

7. Do gymnosperms like Pine trees and Cypress plants belong to the angiosperm plant
group? Why or Why not?

Since they are conifers, pine trees don't have flowers or fruits, only pinecones. The
seeds are bare and not wrapped. They are found on the pinecones' scale-like surface.
By definition, pine trees are gymnosperms rather than angiosperms.
VII. Conclusion

It can be concluded from the above discussion that angiosperms belong to one
of the most diverse and large extant groups of plants found in the universe and the
flowering plants that play a very vital role in the survival of living organisms. The most
common examples of angiosperms are fruits, grains, vegetables, and flowers. The basic
body of angiosperms has mainly these parts: roots, stems, leaves, and flowers. The vital
responsibility of the root is to anchor the plant, absorb water and minerals from the soil,
and provide them to the tip of the plant. The main part of the plant that is an aerial axis in
nature and bears the leaves and flowers is called the stem. The stems conduct water and
minerals from the roots and supply them directly to the leaves, flowers, and plants. Leave
is another vital part of the flowering plant. The leaf base, stipules, petiole, and blade also
referred to as lamina are the major parts that make the structure of the leaf. The diversity
of the angiosperms is classified into two major categories that are monocots and dicots.
Dicots also referred to as eudicots consist of a couple of cotyledons in the developing shoots
while in monocots there is only a single cotyledon. Bean is some of the most common dicots
whereas orchids, and palms are some of the most commonly seen monocots. Angiosperms
provide an important source of food for both animals and other living organisms as they are
a vital component of the terrestrial environment in terms of biomass and the number of
individuals. The impact of angiosperms in managing the food chain can never be denied.
The vegetative parts of the plants are consumed by a vast variety of insects and
invertebrates. Another economical advantage of angiosperms is that they provide various
pharmaceuticals. Hence, it can be concluded that the contribution of angiosperm in
maintaining our habitat is extremely vital.