Germination of Plants

Germination GERMINATION happens when a baby plant is growing Germination GERMINATION happens when a baby plant is growing. When a seed begins to grow, we say it GERMINATES.

How Plants Grow 1.) When the seed starts to germinate, the first thing to come out is the MAIN ROOT. This happens UNDERGROUND so usually you can not see this happen. 2.) The skin starts to split and the tiny shoot straightens, carrying the COTYLEDON(S) with it. The cotyledons STORE FOOD for the baby plant inside the seed. The actual PLANT is between the cotyledons. 3.) The main root gets bigger and sometimes the plant grows side roots, and the first LEAVES appear.

To grow, the seed's growing conditions usually have to be DAMP, WARM, and DARK, like springtime soil. A dry seed will stay DORMANT (not growing) unless it soaks in some water. Then it will start to germinate.

Monocots vs. Dicots Stems- Dicots- The TUBES are arranged in a CIRCLE around the center of the plant stem. Monocots- Tubes are SCATTERED throughout the stems in no particular PATTERN. Dicot Monocot

Leaves- In dicots, the veins INTERSCET inside the leaf, forming a BRANCHING pattern. In monocots the veins are PARALLEL

Flowers- Dicots- Their parts are in multiples of 2, 4 or 5. Monocots-Usually have flower parts that are in multiples of 3.

4. Seeds- Monocots have ONLY ONE cotyledon Dicots have MORE THAN ONE cotyledon

5. Roots- Dicots usually have one long, thick root called a TAP ROOT Small SECONDARY roots grow from the taproot. The longer the taproot, the harder it is to pull out of the ground. Monocots have FIBROUS roots that spread and branch out UNDERGROUND. Much larger surface area of the roots usually means much larger plant growth.