Unit 11 Introduction to the study of plants

11.1 Uses of plants

Plants have many uses, both to people and animals as well as the environment. Below are some uses
of plants.
• Plants are a major source of food for both people and animals. They are the
producers of food for all living organisms. Plant parts like stems, roots, seeds, leaves, fruits, bulbs
and some flowers are edible. Maize is the staple food crop of Zimbabwe. A staple food is a basic diet.
• Plants supply us with fresh oxygen for breathing.
• Roots of plants bind soil particles together preventing soil erosion.
• Plants are part of the water cycle.
• Some plant parts are used as medicine.
• Cultivated plants are sold to get money. These are plants grown for their produce.
• Decorative plants like flowers, trees, lawns and shrubs beautify the environment.
• Shrubs are wooded plants with many brands.
• Tree plants provide us with shade.
Some trees are used for paper and furniture making.
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Figure 5.1 Trees provide us with shade

11.2 Classification of plants

Plants can be classified as cultivated and wild plants. However, both cultivated and wild plants are
useful to people, animals and the environment.
Cultivated plants
Cultivated plants are plants grown by people for selling. Cultivated plants can be grown in the field,
vegetable garden, home garden or decorative garden and orchard.

Figure 5.2 Examples of cultivated plants

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many different cultivated plants. All cultivated plants give money to the farmer.
Tabie 5.1 below shows different cultivated crops and their uses. Table 5.1 Cultivated crops and their
uses
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table 5.1 Cultivated

crops and they
Type Example By products

Field Maize Meaie meal Fodder

Clothes
Cotton
Cooking od Fodder

Cigaettes
Tobacco
Medicine Mantre

Soya bean Soy rrük

 Soya chunks
CooEng oa
Fodde

Food
Tomato Tomato paste
Compost manure

Food
Fodder
Cabbage
c manure
Vegetable
crops Food
Fodder
Cucumber
Compost manwe

Food
Fodder
Buttemut
Compost
mant.re

Mint Food

Horne / Lavender Food

comrnetciO
garden Food

Food

so

Exercise A
questions.
plant which is NOT a cultivated plant.
B. Mango C. Mopane D. Sugarcane cultivated plant suitable for decorating or beautifying places.
B. Sugarcane C. Flower D. Cauliflower following list of cultivated plants, which one is a staple crop
B. Maize C. Cabbage D. Tobacco browsing animal feeds on trees leaves?
B. Cattle C. Giraffe D. Fish staple food? Give one example. four uses of the following:
plants (b) Wild plants. cultivated plant? Give two examples. ways of classifying plants.
Answer the
Choose a A. Maize
Choose a
Maize
From the of Zimbabwe?
Sugarcane
Which
Buffalo
What is a
State any
(a) Cultivated
What is a
State two
Summary
• Plants have many uses to people, animals and the environment.
• They are classified into cultivated and wild plants.
Cultivated plants are grown by people. Wild plants grow on their own.