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 Taproot Fibrous root

 Long, thick root
 Reach deep into the soil to obtain
water/nutrients

 Fibrous roots
 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
 Mesophyll (meso=middle)

1. Palisade mesophyll
-site of most
photosynthesis

2. Spongy mesophyll
-some photosynthesis
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
 Tropisms
Growing toward or away from a stimulus
Phototropism Thigmotropism
Stimulus = Light Stimulus = Touch

Leaves have positive Vines have positive

phototropism thigmotropism
 Tropisms
Growing toward or away from a stimulus
Gravitropism Hydrotropism
Stimulus = Gravity Stimulus = Water
Roots have positive
gravitropism Roots have positive
hydrotropism
 Tropic and nastic movements

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1oz39p48TQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPf3FbR6eQE
MIMOSA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5fOsgrAJiU

VENUS FLYTRAP
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.