Understanding Plants
• A Comprehensive Guide to the World of Plants
• Presented by: Etsegenet Tekil
What Are Plants?
• Plants are living organisms
that belong to the
Kingdom Plantae.
• They can make their own
food through a process called
photosynthesis.
• Most are green, stationary,
and multicellular.
What Are Plants?
• Examples include trees, shrubs, herbs,
grasses, mosses, and ferns.
General Characteristics of Plants
• Autotrophic: Use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water
to make food.
• Cell structure: Have cell walls made of cellulose and
contain chloroplasts.
• Growth: Grow throughout their lives (indeterminate
growth).
• Reproduction: Reproduce sexually (using
seeds/spores) or asexually.
• Response to Environment: React to sunlight, gravity,
and touch (tropisms).
What Plants Need to Survive
• Sunlight: Energy source for photosynthesis.
• Water: Essential for nutrient transport and
photosynthesis.
• Carbon Dioxide: Taken in from the air to produce glucose.
• Minerals and Nutrients: Absorbed from the soil for
growth.
• Temperature and Climate: Plants need suitable
environmental conditions.
• Space: Adequate space to spread roots and grow leaves.
Types of Plants
• Flowering Plants (Angiosperms): Produce
flowers and fruits with seeds.
Types of Plants
• Non-Flowering Plants:
- Gymnosperms: Cone-bearing plants like pines.
- Ferns: Reproduce with spores, no flowers or
seeds.
- Mosses and Liverworts: Simple
non-vascular, grow in moist areas.
• Herbs, Shrubs, Trees: Classified
based on size and stem type.
Vascular vs Non-Vascular Plants
• Vascular Plants:
- Have transport systems (xylem and phloem).
- Includes trees, grasses, and flowering plants.
• Non-Vascular Plants:
- No true roots, stems, or leaves.
- Include mosses and liverworts.
• Vascular tissue allows plants to grow tall and
transport water/nutrients efficiently.
Vascular vs Non-Vascular Plants
Structure of a Plant
• Roots: Anchor the plant and absorb water and
nutrients.
• Stems: Support the plant and carry substances
between roots and leaves.
• Leaves: Main site for photosynthesis and gas
exchange.
• Flowers: Responsible for reproduction.
• Fruits: Protect and help spread seeds.
• Seeds: Contain the embryo of a new plant.
Structure of a Plant
.
Flowers
• Purpose: Reproduction – attracting pollinators and
producing seeds.
• Main Parts:
- Petals: Colorful to attract pollinators.
- Sepals: Protect flower before it opens.
- Stamens (Male): Produce pollen.
- Carpels/Pistils (Female): Contain ovary and ovules.
• After pollination and fertilization, flowers turn into
fruits.
Fruits
• Fruits develop from the ovary after fertilization.
• Functions of Fruits:
- Protect the seeds.
- Help in seed dispersal (by animals, wind, water).
• Types of fruits:
- Fleshy fruits: Apples, mangoes, berries.
- Dry fruits: Nuts, pods, grains.
Structure of a plant
Summary – Structure of Plants
• System of Organs:
- Root system – below ground, absorbs water.
- Shoot system – above ground, includes stems,
leaves, and flowers.
• Special Adaptations:
- Thorns for protection.
- Waxy leaves in desert plants.
- Large leaves in rainforest plants for light
absorption.
The Role of Plants on Earth
• Oxygen Production: Through photosynthesis, plants release
oxygen we breathe.
• Carbon Dioxide Absorption: Reduce greenhouse gases.
• Habitat: Provide shelter for countless organisms.
• Food Source: Base of the food chain.
• Soil Protection: Prevent erosion and enrich soil.
• Climate Regulation: Forests help regulate temperatures and
rainfall patterns.
• Human Use: Medicine, building materials, clothing, paper,
etc.
Conclusion
• Plants are essential for life on Earth.
• They provide oxygen, food, shelter, and
medicine.
• Understanding plants helps us protect the
environment and support biodiversity.
