Plant Structures

Roots, Stems, and Leaves

Plants
 Seed plants have three
main structures:
 Roots
 Stems

 Leaves
 Linked together by
various means
 Function of Roots
 Roots
 Absorb/Transport water
and nutrients

 Anchor plant to the

ground
 Hold soil in place and

prevent erosion
 Storage of sugars made

In photosynthesis
Functions of Stems
 Stems
 Support for the
plant body
 Carries nutrients

throughout plant
 Functions of Leaves

 Leaves
 Main photosynthetic
systems
 Sight of gas

exchange
 Tissues in Plants
1. Dermal
tissue
2. Vascular
tissue
3. Ground
tissue
Tissues in Plants

1. Dermal Tissue
 Outer covering
 Cuticle
 – waxy coating
 Roots have dermal tissue
 Root hairs
 Stomata and Guard cells
within
 Tissues in Plants
V for vascular, V for vein!

 2. Vascular Tissue
Transport System
Carries water and
nutrients.
 Xylem
 (Water in)

 Phloem
 (Glucose out)
Tissues in Plants
 3. Ground
Tissue
 Cells between dermal
and vascular tissue
 *Roots
 Types of Roots
 Taproots
 Long, thick root
 Reach deep into the soil to obtain water/nutrients

 Fibrous roots Taproot Fibrous root

 Many thin roots
 Spread out away from plants to find water and

nutrients quickly
 Helps to reduce erosion of soil
 Roots
 Root Functions
 Anchor plant
 Absorb water/nutrients

 Storage of sugar
Stems
 Functions
Produce leaves,
branches, and
flowers
 Hold leaves up

 Transport

substance between
roots and leaves
Stems
 2 types of stems
1. Herbaceous
2. Woody
 Stems

 Xylem and phloem

Transport water and nutrients


Contain nodes
 – attachment for leaves
 Leaves

 Function
 Main site of:
 Photosynthesis

 Covered by:
 epidermis and cuticle

 Create water proof barrier

Leaves
 Stomata

– pores in the underside of
the leaf
 Gas exchange
 CO2 in

 O2 out

 Guard Cells –
Surround the stomata
 Open and closes stomata

***Stomata closed at night

to prevent H2O loss
 Leaves
 Transpiration
 Loss of water through its leaves
 Replaced by water drawn into the leaf
Transport in Leaves
 Vein (Vascular Tissue)
 Xylem
 “Water in” for
photosynthesis
 Phloem
 “Glucose out” after
photosynthesis
Plant Adaptations
 Types of Adaptations
 Structural adaptations are the way
something is built or made.

 Behavioral adaptations are the way

something acts naturally or by
instinct.
 Behavioral Adaptations
 Adaptations to get food
 Plants like the Venus fly trap, trap
insects for food.
 Behavioral Adaptations
 Adaptations for reproduction
 Plants drop seeds to grow new offspring.
 Structural Adaptations
 Adaptations to get water and
nutrients
 Roots soak up water and nutrients

from soil.
 Structural Adaptations
 Adaptations for defense
 Spines and thorns protect plants from predators
 Structural Adaptations
 Adaptations for defense
 Poison Ivy and Poison oak have toxins that
give predators a painful itchy rash.
 Desert Adaptations
 Small leaves or spines on desert plants
conserve water.
 Thick waxy skin holds in water.
 Roots near the soils surface soak up rain water

quickly before it evaporates.

 Rainforest Adaptations
 Smooth, slippery bark keeps vines from killing
trees.
 Slide shaped leaves lets rain run off so fungus
doesn’t grow on plants.