9

Plants–Form and Function

Expected Learning Outcomes

Knowledge to be gained: •Types of plants •Parts of a owering plant and their functions
•Pollination and fertilisation
Skill to be developed: •Identi cation of various parts of a owering plant.
Attitude to be inculcated: •Students will be able to value the importance of each part of a plant.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLANTS type of stem.

Plants are a major component of our
ecosystem. ey are found everywhere and
in every type of climate. ey adapt to the
surroundings where they are found. eir
bodies are modi ed according to the
resources available to them. Some plants are
very small, others are big.
Go on a nature walk and look around.
Observe closely the kinds of plants and study
their differences.
Let us learn how plants are classi ed into
different groups according to their size and
110 Exploring Science-6
KINDS OF PLANTS
Based on their size and type of stem, plants
can be grouped into four categories
u Trees u Herbs
u Shrubs u Climbers and creepers
Trees
Trees are big plants with thick and hard
stem, which is called trunk. eir stems
branch out and roots go deep into the soil.
For example: guava tree, peepal tree and
banyan tree. Trees like coconut and date
palm do not have branches.
Shrubs
Shrubs are plants with hard stems that are
not very thick. ey have branches near the
surface of the soil and do not grow as tall as
trees. For example: Rose and bougainvillea.
Herbs
Herbs are plants with so, green stems.
ey are generally short in height. For
example: Coriander, rosemary and thyme.
Creepers and Climbers
ese are weak-stemmed plants and hence
cannot grow erect without support.
Creepers spread horizontally along the soil.
For example, watermelon, pumpkin and
bitter gourd are creepers.
Based on life span, plants can be classi ed
into: Annual, Biennial and perennial plants.
Annual plants survive only for one year or
one season. Herbs are generally annual
plants. Examples of annual plants are
mustard, wheat, gram, maize, paddy, green
gram (moong), tomato, brinjal, balsam,
sweet pea, petunia, etc.
Biennial plants complete their life cycle in
two years. During the rst year, they develop
only vegetable parts; root, stem and leaves
are called vegetative parts of a plant. Flowers
and fruits develop only in the second year.
Radish, turnip, dahlia, etc., are some biennial
plants.

Climbers take support of an object or a tree for
climbing. Climbers grow vertically. ey
simply twine in a spiral way around the support
available to them. For example: Money plants,
peas and grapevines are climbers.
Trees
Perennial plants are shrubs and trees. ey
live for more than two years. Mango, guava,
neem, peepal, jamun, babool, ber, jasmine,
lemon, henna, etc., are some perennial
plants.
Shrubs Herbs Creepers & Climbers

Very high; Generally Shorter than trees; Short plants; Long plants; Length more
Size
more than 2 mtr Height between 1-2 mtr Height less than 1 mtr than 1 mtr

Hard thick trunk with Hard stem, but not very

Type of stem Green so stems Weak, green so stems
deep roots thick

Examples Coconut, mango, etc. Rose, lemon, etc. Rosemary, mint, etc. Pumpkin, grapevines, etc.

Tree Shrubs Herbs Climbers

Fig.1 Types of plants
Plants-Form and Function 111
Checkpoint-1
Write True or False
1. Rose is a non- owering plant. ____________
2. Trees are large and tall plants with hard and woody stems. ____________
3. Climbers have strong stems. ____________
4. Biennial plants complete their life cycle in ve years. ____________
5. Annual plants survive only for one year. ____________

PARTS OF A FLOWERING PLANT u ey grow away from sunlight.

All owering plants have two main systems, u ey have many lateral branches, called
namely root system and shoot system. secondary and tertiary roots.
Types of Roots
Flower
Roots (root systems) are of two types,
Leaf
namely, taproot and brous root.
Shoot system
u Taproot: In this root system, the primary
Lateral bud root is thick and long. It grows vertically
downwards in the soil. It is also called the
Stem true root.
Root A taproot system has a main root (true
Root system
root) going vertically down, from
which several branches arise (lateral
Fig.2 Parts of a owering plant roots). e branches that arise from the
ROOT SYSTEM main root are called lateral roots.
e root system is the underground, non- Taproot is found in dicot plants. For
green part of a plant. It consists of a primary example, mustard, gram, bean, pea,
root and its branches. carrot, radish, etc.
Characteristics of Roots
u Roots are non-green underground parts
of a plant.
u ey develop from the radicle of the seed
(the body root present in a seed).
Taproot Fibrous root
u ey grow towards soil and water.
Fig.3 Two types of roots
112 Exploring Science-6
u Fibrous root: In this root system, the
primary root is short-lived. It is replaced
by a cluster of brous roots. All the
branches arise from the base of the
stem and spread out into the soil.
Fibrous roots are found in monocot
plants, for example: maize, wheat, rice,
barley, grasses, etc.
Let us perform an activity to study taproots
and brous roots.
Activity-1
Aim: To study taproot and brous root.
Procedure: Request your school gardener to
uproot a grass plant and a balsam or mustard
plant. Wash the soil from the roots carefully.
Put the plants into a shallow tray lled with
water to spread the lateral roots. Note down
the differences between the roots of grass and
balsam or mustard.
Observation: Roots of grass are thin, thread-
like, many in number and in cluster, while
balsam or mustard plant has one thick root
with many side branches.
Conclusion: Grasses have brous roots, while
balsam or mustard has taproot.
Functions of Roots
e normal functions of the roots in all
plants are as follows:
(i) Support: e root is the main part of
the plant. Without a root, a plant can
never grow and stand up. Roots anchor
the plant to the soil.
(ii) Absorption of minerals and water:
Root hairs present in the root absorb
Plants-Form and Function
water and minerals from the soil. e
absorbed water and minerals move
upwards to other parts of the plants.
Water and minerals are needed by
plants for their growth and preparation
of food.
(iii) Holding soil together: Roots bind the
soil particles together and prevent the
soil from getting eroded.
Roots of some plants have very specialised
functions. ey are as follows:
u Mechanical Support: In some plants like
banyan, the branches give out roots
which grow downwards towards the soil.
ey help in supporting the heavy
branches. ese are called prop roots.
u Respiration: Some plants that grow in
marshy areas have secondary roots
coming out of the soil. ese plant roots
are highly porous and help in respiration.
u Storage of food: In some plants, like
carrot, turnip, beetroot, etc., the roots are
swollen. is is due to the food that is
stored in them.
Let us perform an activity to show that roots
absorb water.
Activity-2
Aim: To show that roots absorb water.
Materials required: A radish, a glass, water,
red colour and a knife.
Procedure: Take a radish. Place it in a glass
containing red-coloured water. Leave the set-
113
up for a day. Next day, take the radish out and
cut it lengthwise.
Observation: e red colour has spread
throughout the radish and red-coloured tubes
appear extending all along the length of the
radish.
Conclusion:
e red colour
shows the
passage of
water through
the radish. So,
it can be
concluded that
roots absorb water. Fig.4 Red colour spread
inside the radish
Let us perform an activity to show that roots
bind soil particles together.
Activity-3
Aim: To show that roots bind soil particles
together.
Materials Required: Two baskets, a plastic
bag, garden soil, bean seeds and water.
Procedure: Take two baskets and spread a
plastic bag in them. Now, ll the baskets with
garden soil. Sow some seeds of bean in Basket
A and leave Basket B bare. Water them daily
for one week till the seeds germinate and the
seedlings grow into small plants. Now, place
both the baskets inclined under the taps. Let
the water fall over them with the same force.
Observe what happens.
Observation: Very little soil is washed away
from Basket A, while much soil is washed
away from Basket B (Fig.5).
Conclusion: e results indicate that roots
bind the soil particles together.
114 Exploring Science-6
B
A
Fig.5 Washing away of soil
Modi cations of the Root
In some plants, roots are specialised to carry
out some other functions besides anchorage
and absorption. Some of the modi cations
of the root are as follows:
u Storage of food: e tap roots of radish,
turnip, beetroot and carrot store food. So,
they are swollen and eshy. Such roots are
edible in nature. e food made in green
leaves is sent downwards and stored in
the roots of such plants.
u Support: Some roots provide support to
the plant. e supporting roots are of two
types, namely stilt roots and prop roots
(Fig.6).
u Stilt roots: In bamboo, maize and sugar
cane, adventitious roots arise from the
lower nodes and grow downwards. ese
are called stilt roots . ey provide
additional support to the plant.
u Prop roots: In Banyan and rubber trees,
additional roots grow downwards from
their horizontal branches. ese rope-
like roots are called prop roots. ey
penetrate the soil and act as pillars to
support the heavy branches.
Turnip Carrot

Food storing roots Stilt root Prop roots

Fig.6 Modi cations of the root
Checkpoint-2
Fill in the blanks:
1. ______________ root is also called the true root.
2. ______________ prevents soil erosion.
3. ______________ system is the underground, non-green part of a plant.
4. Stilt roots grow ______________.
5. e plants of bamboo, maize and sugar have ______________ roots.

SHOOT SYSTEM from the soil and water.

e shoot system is the aerial part of a
plant. It includes the stem, as well as the
branches, leaves, owers and fruits. It
develops from the plumule of the seed.
Plumule is the mother shoot present inside a
seed.
STEM
Stem is the part of the plant which rises
vertically up from the ground and
connects all other parts of the plant to the
root system. e stem is the main axis of the
shoot system. It is green in herbaceous
plants, but woody and hard in shrubs and
trees. e stem of the tree is called the trunk.
It is covered with bark.
Characteristics of a Stem
u e stem grows towards light and away
u It has nodes and inter-nodes.
u e stem bears leaves, branches, buds,
owers and fruits.
u e stem connects the root system with
the rest of the plant.
Functions of the Stems
u e stem bears aerial parts of the plants.
u It holds the plant upright so that the
leaves get the maximum sunlight.
u It acts as a connecting link by transporting
water and minerals from the roots to the
other parts of the plant, and food from the
leaves to all parts of the plant.
u e stem holds leaves in such a way that
they are exposed to plenty of sunlight for
preparing food by photosynthesis.

Plants-Form and Function 115

 Modi cations of Stem
Activity-4
In certain plants, the stem is modi ed to
Aim: To show that water is transported carry out special functions besides support
through the stem.
and transportation. ese functions are as
Materials required: A glass tumbler, water, follows:
red ink and a twig with a white ower.
u Manufacture of food: e green stem of
Procedure: Take a glass tumbler and ll
one-third of it with water. Add a few drops of
annual plants synthesises food by
red ink to it and stir photosynthesis. In cacti, the stem
well. Now, cut a twig becomes green leaf-like to make food.
from a plant having a u Storage of food: In potato, ginger,
white ower (like turmeric, onion, etc., the stem grows
petunia or balsam)
underground and stores food. is type
obliquely, and put it in
of stem remains underground and gives
the glass. Leave the
rise to aerial shoots in the next season.
s e t - up ove r n i g ht .
Observe the plant the is is called perennation.
Fig.7
next morning. Balsam stem In potatoes, the modi ed stem is called a
Observation: e petals of the ower and tuber (Fig.8). It has a number of buds
veins of the leaves have become red. called eyes. Each bud can grow into an
Conclusion: is shows that red-coloured aerial shoot.
water has travelled up through the stem into In ginger, the underground stem swells
leaves and owers. e thin red-coloured
up in an irregular form and is called a
lines are xylem vessels through which water
rhizome. It has nodes, inter-nodes, buds
travels from roots to different parts of the
shoot. and scaly leaves (small modi ed leaves).

Ginger

Potato

Stem reduced
to a disc

Germinating eye bud

Yam (Jimikand) Onion

Fig.8 Potato tuber Fig.9 Stems modi ed to store food

116 Exploring Science-6

Fig.10 Stem tendril Fig.11 Stem thorns
In onion, garlic, lily, etc., the leaves store
food and become eshy. ey overlap
each other and are attached to a disc. is
disc is the reduced stem. Such modi ed
stems are called bulbs.
u Support: In some plants like grapevine
and passion ower, the stem is weak and
some of its branches are modi ed into
thread-like structures called tendrils.
ey are called stem tendrils. Tendrils
coil around objects to give support to the
plant (Fig.10).
u Protection: In rose, lemon, bougainvillea,
etc., the stem bears thorns (Fig.11). ese
thorns protect the plant from grazing
animals.
LEAVES—THE FOOD FACTORIES
OF THE PLANT
e leaves are green and attened structures
that arise from the nodes of the stem and
branches.
Structure of a Leaf
A typical leaf consists of the following parts:
u Leaf base: A leaf is attached to the stem
with its leaf base.
u Lamina or leaf blade: is is the green,
Plants-Form and Function
Margin
Midrib
(midvein)
Veins
Petiole
Fig.12 Structure of a leaf
at and expanded part of the leaf.
u Petiole: It is the leaf stalk. It connects the
leaf blade with the leaf base. Leaves with a
petiole are called stalked leaves, while
leaves without a petiole are called sessile
leaves.
u Midrib and veins: e midrib forms the
middle axis of the leaf blade. It is the
extension of the petiole. e lateral
branches arising from the midrib are
called veins. e veins branch into ne
veinlets. e network formed by the
veins and veinlets in the lamina is called
leaf venation.
u Stomata: Leaves bear tiny pores called
stomata. ese can be seen only under a
microscope. Plants breathe through the
stomata present on the surface of a leaf.
Functions of a Leaf
Leaves have three main functions:
u ey make food for the plant by
photosynthesis.
u ey get rid of excess water from the plant
through transpiration. Transpiration is
the process in which water evaporates from
the leaves of the plants.
117
u ey carry out the process of respiration food, they are called the food factories or
in plants. kitchens of the plant.
Photosynthesis
e process of making food by green
plants is called Photosynthesis. In the
presence of sunlight and chlorophyll green
leaves take the help of water, minerals and Sunlight
carbon dioxide to prepare their food. is
Oxygen
plant food is a kind of sugar called glucose.
During food making, the leaves give off
oxygen. Photosynthesis may be written as:
Starch Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide Sunlight (glucose)
Glucose + Oxygen
+
Water Chlorophyll (food)

e glucose produced in the process of

photosynthesis is stored in the leaf in the Water
form of starch. Since green leaves prepare
Fig.13 Photosynthesis
Activity-5
Aim: To study the presence of starch in leaves.
Materials required: A fresh green leaf, a water bath, water, alcohol, and iodine.
Procedure: Take a fresh green leaf from any plant
which was kept in the presence of sunlight for quite Water bath

some time. Boil the leaf in water for at least ve Boiling water
Ethanol
minutes. en, boil the leaf in alcohol (ethanol), Leaf
keeping it in a water bath for some time, to remove Asbestos Boiling tube
gauze
the green colour so that the effect of other colours
is clearly visible. Now, wash the leaf in cold water. Tripod
Add a few drops of iodine to it. What do you stand

observe?
Burner
Observation and Conclusion: e leaf turns blue-
black, indicating the presence of starch. e
glucose formed in the leaves by photosynthesis is Fig.14 Testing a leaf for starch
converted into starch.
Note: Do this activity only in the presence of your teacher.

118 Exploring Science-6

Modi cations of Leaves
In some plants, the leaf or part of a leaf is
modi ed to perform some special functions.
ese modi cations are as follows:
u Leaf tendrils: In creepers, the leaves or
lea ets are modi ed into spring-like
structures called leaf tendrils. ey coil
Checkpoint-3
Answer the following questions:
1. Which is the main axis of the shoot system?
2. What is perennation?
3. What is a tuber?
4. What are tendrils?
FLOWER
Flower is the most attractive part of owering
plants. It is the reproductive part of the plant
and helps in sexual reproduction. Flowers
contain the reproductive organs of the
plant.
Structure of a Flower
A typical ower has the following parts:
u Pedicel: e stalk of the ower is called
the pedicel. A ower is attached to the
plant with its pedicel.
u alamus: It is the upper swollen end of
the pedicel. All the oral parts are
attached to the thalamus.
u Sepals: Sepals are green leaf-like
structures. In a bud, they enclose and
protect the inner whorls of the ower.
ey are usually ve in number.
Plants-Form and Function
around some objects and provide support
to the weak stem to climb up. For
example, the leaves of sweet peas.
u Leaf spines: In prickly poppy, the leaf
margins bear spines to protect the plant
from grazing animals. In cacti, the leaves
are modi ed into spines to avoid loss of
water by transpiration.
u Petals: Petals are brightly coloured and
the most attractive part of a ower. ey
may be sweet-scented. ey attract
insects for pollination.
u Stamens: ese are the male
reproductive organs of a ower. Each
stamen has two parts, namely—a long
and narrow lament and a bilobed sac-
like structure called anther.
e laments are attached to the
thalamus and the anthers have pollen
grains. A pollen grain contains male
g ame te s ( c el ls t hat t a ke p ar t i n
reproduction).
u Carpels or pistils: is is the female
reproductive part. Each carpel has three
parts:
Ÿ e swollen basal part of the carpel is
119
 called the ovary. It contains ovules. Observation:
An ovule contains the female gamete. Colour : Yellow
Ÿ e long, thread-like middle part is Pedicel : Present
called style. Sepals : 4 (green)
Ÿ e terminal expanded part of the Petals : 4 (yellow)
style is called stigma. It is sticky and Stamens : 6
helps to trap the pollen grains during Pistil : 1
pollination.
Petal Let us perform an activity to study the
structure of a stamen.
Stigma
Anther
Style
Pistil Activity-7
(Carpel) Stamen

Ovary Aim: To study the structure of a stamen.

Filament
Materials required: Different types of owers.
alamus Procedure: Collect different types of owers.
Sepal Pedicel (stalk)
Remove sepals and petals. Study the shape
Fig.15 Parts of a ower
and size of the stamens. Take a stamen and
Let us perform an activity to study different cut the anther horizontally from the middle.
parts of a ower. Tap the half-cut anther on a glass slide.

Activity-6 Pollen grains

Anther Pollen
Aim: To study different parts of a ower. sacs

Materials required: A mustard ower,

forceps, etc.
Line of dehiscence
Procedure: Take a mustard ower and
observe all its parts. Separate its parts with
the help of a pair of forceps. Count its various
parts. Draw and label different parts of the Filament
(stalk)
ower.
Fig.17 Stamen cut widthwise
Petal
Observation: You can see some ne particles
Stamens on the slide.
Pistil
Conclusion: ese are pollen grains. ey
Sepal
contain the male gametes.

Pedicel Let us perform an activity to study the

Fig.16 Parts of a mustard ower structure of an ovary.
120 Exploring Science-6

Activity-8
Aim: To study the structure of an ovary.
Materials required: Two complete owers of
the same type.
Procedure: Take complete owers and
remove their sepals, petals and stamens.
Place one of the pistils on a slide and cut the
ovary longitudinally (length-wise), as shown
in the gure. Draw its labelled diagram.
Take another ovary and give a transverse
(width-wise) cut. Use a hand lens to study the
detailed structure of the ovary, i.e., the
number and attachment of ovules, and the
number of chambers in the ovary. Draw its
labelled diagram.
Stigma
Ovules
Style
Ovule
Ovary
wall
Chamber
in ovary
Ovary cut Ovary cut
length-wise width-wise
Fig.18 Structure of ovary
Observation and Conclusion: Ovules are
round in structure and are attached to a tissue
called placenta. ey contain female gamete.
e female gamete present in the ovary is
called the egg.
Pollination and Fertilisation
Pollination and fertilisation are necessary
for a ower to become a fruit. e male
gamete of a ower (pollen grains) needs to
combine with the female gamete (ovary) of
the same ower or the ower of another
plant of a similar type, for the ower to
become a fruit. e pollen grains are
transported to the female gametes for this
process to take place.
e pollen grains are transferred through
blowing winds, owing water or insects. e
transfer of the pollen grains from the
anther to the stigma is called pollination. It
can take place in two ways (Fig.19). ese
ways are as follows:
When the pollen grains from the anther of a
Placenta ower are transferred to the stigma of the
same ower or the stigma of another
ower on the same plant, it is called self-
pollination.
When the pollen grains from the anther of
the ower of one plant are transferred to the
stigma of the ower of another plant of a
similar type, through different agents, such
as wind, water, insects, etc., it is called cross-
pollination.
Aer pollination, the male gamete from the
pollen grains travels down to the ovary and
fuses with the female gamete, called egg,
present in the ovary. e fusion of the male
gamete with the female gamete is called
fertilisation.
Plants-Form and Function 121
 Transfer of pollens Pollen 1. Pollen sticks to the bee
grains
Stigma Stigma 3. Pollen sticks to the pistil
Anther

2. Bee travels
to another plant
of the same type.

Self-pollination Cross-pollination Cross-pollination with the help of a bee

Fig.19 Types of pollination

Once the egg is fertilised, the petals, sepals grow into new plants.
and stamen fall off. e ovary grows into a u Flowering plants beautify their
fruit and the ovule changes into a seed. surroundings.
Functions of a Flower u e nectar of owers is collected by
honeybees to prepare honey.
e important functions and uses of a ower
u Flowers emit sweet and attractive smell.
are as follows:
Perfumes are prepared from owers.
u Flowers are the reproductive organs of
u Cloves are dried ower buds. ese are
plants. e ovary of a ower develops into
used for avouring food and as a
fruit and its ovules form seeds. e seeds
medicine.
Checkpoint-4
Write True or False
1. Leaves with a petiole are called stalked leaves. _________
2. e network formed by the veins and veinlets in the lamina is called veins. _________
3. e ower is the most attractive part of owering plants. _________
4. Fruits are the reproductive organs of the plant. _________
5. Perfumes are prepared from owers. _________

Keywords
Radicle : The baby root present in a seed.
Plumule : The baby shoot present in a seed.
Node : The point on a stem where a leaf or a branch grows from.
Trunk : The stem of the tree.
Bark : Outermost brown and hard covering of old stem.
Lamina : The at green portion of the leaf.
Venation : Arrangement of veins in a leaf.
Gamete : e reproductive cell of the plant or animal.

122 Exploring Science-6

 Points to Remember
u Herbs are small plants with so and green stems.
u Shrubs are bushy plants with woody stems.
u Trees are tall and large plants with hard and woody stems.
u Based on lifespan, plants are classi ed as—annual, biennial and perennial.
u All plants have two main systems, namely—the root system and the shoot system.
u e root system is the underground, non-green part of a plant.
u Roots are of two types—taproots and brous roots.
u Roots anchor the plant, hold the soil, and absorb minerals and water.
u e shoot system is the aerial part of a plant.
u e stem of the tree is called the trunk.
u Stem connects the root system with the shoot system and transports minerals, water and food.
u Leaves are the lungs and the kitchen of the plants.
u e ower is the reproductive part of the plant.
u e transfer of the pollen grains from the anther to the stigma is called pollination.
u e fusion of the male gamete with the female gamete is called fertilisation.

Exercise
A. Tick (3) the Correct Option
1. Which of the following is not a owering plant?
(a) Rose (b) Algae
(c) Mango (d) Apple
2. Which of the following is a shrub?
(a) Rose (b) Coriander
(c) Peepal (d) Parsleys
3. Annual plants survive for only _____________.
(a) one year (b) two years
(c) ve years (d) ten years
4. Which of the following has taproot?
(a) Mango (b) Wheat
(c) Maize (d) Barley
Plants-Form and Function 123
 5. Which of the following has brous roots?
(a) Radish (b) Carrot
(c) Mustard (d) Grass
B. Fill in the Blanks with Suitable Words
1. Roots absorb _____________ and _____________ from the soil.
2. e _____________ of the plant grows towards light and away from the soil and water.
3. _____________ are small plants with so and green stems.
4. Green leaves are called the _____________of the plant.
5. _____________ is the most attractive part of owering plants.
6. e transfer of the pollen grains from the anther to the stigma is called _____________.
7. e _____________ of a ower develops into fruit.
C. Very Short-Answer-Type Questions
1. Give an example of: (a) a herb (b) a shrub (c) a creeper (d) a climber
2. What are herbs? Give two examples.
3. What are shrubs? Give two examples.
4. What are trees? Give two examples.
5. Herbs are generally annual plants. True or False?
6. True root and lateral root can be found in brous root systems. True or False?
7. What are prop roots?
8. What are stilt roots?
9. Stem is green in shrubs, but woody and hard in herbaceous plants. True or False?
10. Tendrils are modi ed leaves and stems found in creepers and climbers. True or False?
D. Short-Answer-Type Questions
1. What are the main functions of a root system?
2. De ne taproot. Give some examples of plants with taproot.
3. What are the characteristic features of a root system?
4. With the help of a simple experiment show that roots can absorb water.
5. What are the main functions of the stem?
6. What are the functions of the leaves of a plant?
7. What do you mean by cross-pollination?

124 Exploring Science-6

E. Long-Answer-Type Questions
1. Differentiate among trees, shrubs, herbs, creepers and climbers.
2. Explain with a diagram, the two types of root systems.
3. What is the stem? What kind of modi cations are found in the stems of various plants?
4. Describe the structure of a leaf with a labelled diagram.
5. Explain with a diagram the structure of a ower.
6. What is pollination? Explain the two methods through which pollination can occur.

HOTS
1. What would happen if the owers were not colourful and had no pleasant smell?
Note: ere are a few owers which are not colourful and are odourless. ey undergo wind
pollination.
2. Potatoes are grown underground. How do they contain starch when photosynthesis occurs
in the green leaves above the ground?

Activity Zone

Project Work
A. Collect owers of different plants and observe their parts. Compare how different parts of a
ower are similar or different from other owers. Try to nd out the reason for the differences.
Prepare a chart by pasting pictures of these owers along with their different parts.
B. Collect six different types of leaves. Name them and draw their shapes in your notebook. Also,
try to nd the different types of venation present in various leaves.

Lotus leaf Peepal leaf Mango leaf Neem leaf Papaya leaf Banana leaf

Science Excursion

C. Plan a visit to a nursery. Sample the plants with stem tendrils and leaves. Take a photo of these
plants and note their names. Try to gather more information on tendrils found in plants.

Plants-Form and Function 125

 Memory Map

Climber
&
Herb Shrub Creeper Tree Annual Biennial Perennial

based on structure based on life-span

Types of plants

PLANTS

Parts of a plant

Root System Shoot System

types

Taproot Fibrous root

Stem Leaf Flower

function function
Stamen Pistil
Support Bears aerial Transport Photosynthesis Male Female
part of the food, water reproductive reproductive
plant and mineral organ organ
function
Reproduction

e-Resources
Please visit the link given below or scan the QR code for more resources on
this Chapter:
https://www.megamindpublication.com/s-1-science/b-1-exploring-science-6/c-18/plants-form-and-
functions.html

126 Exploring Science-6