1. All about Plants!

2. The importance of plants…..
Primary source of food
Major producers of oxygen
Keep us cool
Renew the air
Slow down the wind
Hold soil in place
Provide a home for wildlife
Beautify our surroundings
Perfume the air
Furnish building materials and fuel

3. Objective A Students will be able to identify parts of the plants
and discuss their functions;

4. Major Plant Parts Vegetative Parts: Reproductive Parts: Roots Stems
Leaves
Reproductive Parts:
Flowers

5. Roots Functions Absorb water and nutrients
Anchor plant and support the aboveground part of plant
Store food to be used later
Need to grow constantly for plant to stay healthy
First structure to form from seed
Plant health is closely tied to root health

6. Root Structure Primary Root- first root to grow from the seed.
Secondary Roots – grow from primary root
Both have Root Hairs – they help anchor the plant, absorb water & nutrients

7. Root Structure Apical Meristem
Root Cap: Covers and protects apical meristem as it pushes through soil particles
Epidermis: Where water and minerals enter root
Root Hairs: Projections that increase root surface area allowing greater moisture and nutrient uptake

8. Root Systems Fibrous Root :A system that has no dominant primary root
Taproot: A system composed of one primary root and many secondary roots that branch off

9. Root Nodules Swellings (bumps) on the roots
Rhizobium bacteria live in these bumps
they take nitrogen from the air and combine it with oxygen to make it useable to the plant
puts nitrogen in the soil so that crops that grow there later may use the nitrogen

10. Legumes Legumes are the group of plants that can do this
Soybeans, clover, alfalfa, beans, peas

11. Root Health
Healthy Roots: Roots are white or nearly white, and smell fresh.
Unhealthy Roots: Roots are black, brown, or dark orange and smell rotten and sour.

12. Root Health Watering properly drastically affects the plant’s health
Drainage holes in the pot
Soaked with water until it drains out the bottom encourages plant growth throughout the entire pot
Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings

13. Stems
All stems look very similar, but upon closer observation there are many differences!

14. Functions of Stems
Support leaves, and position them so they can receive as much sunlight as possible
Responsible for size and shape of plant
Move water, minerals, and manufactured food throughout whole plant
Green stems produce food through photosynthesis

15. Stems External Structures: Terminal Bud: Bud located at end of stem
Apical Meristem: Contained inside terminal bud; responsible for stem growth.
Node: Place where leaves are attached to stem
Internode: Area between nodes

16. Stems External Structures: Lateral Buds: Buds located on side branches
Bud Scales: Protective structures located on outside of terminal and lateral buds
Lenticels: Small spots on stem that allow a stem to exchange gases with its environment

18. Stems Internal Structures:
3 Types of Tissues used for transport of materials
Xylem, Phloem, and Cambium
Arranged by
Small bundles scattered throughout stem OR
Rings or a ring of bundles

19. Stems Internal Structures:
Xylem: Tissue responsible for carrying water and nutrients from roots to leaves; located near center of stem
Xylem Up!!
Phloem: Tissue responsible for carrying food produced in leaf to rest of plant; usually located near outside of stem
Phloem Down!!

20. Stems Internal Structures:
Cambium: Tissue responsible for the production of new xylem and phloem. It is found between the xylem and phloem.

22. Specialized Stems
Bulbs: Short flattened stem which has several fleshy leaves. Bulbs are found beneath the soil.
Example: Onions
Corm: Spherical structure similar to a bulb
Example: Gladiolus

23. Specialized Stems
Rhizome: Thick underground stem which lies horizontally.
Example: Mother in Law’s Tongue
Stolon: Horizontal stem which lies above the ground (often called runners).
Example: Strawberry runners

24. Specialized Stems Tuber: Rhizome with a tip swollen with stored food
Example: Potatoes

25. Leaves Produce food for the plants
Functions
Produce food for the plants
Efficiently collect light and use that light to make energy

26. Activity #2 Instructions Supplies Needed: 1 leaf 1 piece of paper
1 crayon
Instructions
Using the crayon and rub the image of the leaf in the middle of the page.

27. Label Your Picture

28. Leaf Parts
Leaf Blade: Large, broad, flat surface whose job is to collect sunlight
Petiole: supports the leaf and holds it away from the stem.
Midrib: Main vein running down the center of the leaf. It helps hold the leaf so it is facing the sun.

29. Vein Patterns Parallel: Veins never cross; found in monocots
Netted: Veins form a network; found in dicots

30. Leaf Types
Simple Leaf: Has only one leaf on the petiole.
Compound Leaf: A leaf with multiple blades.

31. Leaf Layers
Cuticle: Top waxy, non-cellular part of leaf; prevents water escaping
Epidermis: Skin like layer of cells found on top and bottom; protects leaf

32. Leaf Layers
Palisade Mesophyll: Layer of cells standing on end directly below upper epidermis; responsible for photosynthesis
Spongy Mesophyll: Loosely packed cells located beneath palisade mesophyll; responsible for holding products of photosynthesis

33. Leaf Layers
Stomata: Holes in lower epidermis responsible for gas exchange.
Guard Cells: Surround stomata's which open and close them.