Plants – Those living things which can’t move and make their own food itself are called plants.
There are many parts of plant like root, stem, bud, flower, fruit, bark, leaf, trunk branch.
Shoot: – The part of plant that grows above the soil is called shoot.
Shoot include stem, branch, leaf, flower etc.
Root: – The underground parts of plant is called root.
Work: – Root holds the plant in the soil.
Root takes water from the soil.
Stem: – The part of plant just above the soil is called stem.
Work: – Stem carries water and food to different parts of a plant.
Leaf: – The green part of plant that grows on the stem is called leaf.
Work: – Leaf makes food for the plants hence the leaves are called kitchen of the plant.
Flower: – The bright and colorful part of plants are called flower.
Fruit: – The mature ovary is called fruits.
Fruits mostly contain seeds.
Seed: – The small, hard part of a plant by which a new plant grows is called seed.
It is found inside the fruit.
Some fruits have no seed like banana,
Some fruits have only one seed like mango, black berry
Some fruits have many seeds like jack fruit, water melon
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Plant Life
Plants play very important role on earth.
They provide food and oxygen to all other living things.
They grow on land, on mountains, in deserts and under sea.
Plants grow mostly from seeds when they get enough water, sunlight and air.
The young plant developing out from seed is called seedling.
A typical seedling has 3 main parts: root, shoot and leaves.
Root – The parts of plant below the ground or soil is called root
The Root System – Root is the underground part of the plants. It grows towards the force of gravity (downward).
Tap Roots – The main long thick root growing downwards, from which many thinner roots develop on it, is called tap roots.
Taproot goes deep into the soil for searching for water and minerals.
Examples – Root of Sugar beet or carrot, bean, tea, peepal etc.
Fibrous Roots – The roots which do not have any main root but all the roots are fibres like roots called fibrous root.
Fibrous roots do not go very deep in the soil.
Example: lilies, grasses, wheat, rice, palm etc.
Difference:-
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Tap Root
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Fibrous Root
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It has one main root.
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It has no main root
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It grows deep inside the soil.
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It does not go deep inside the soil.
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Ex: carrot, cotton, bean etc.
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Ex: grass, onion, rice
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Function of roots
Root fixes the plant firmly in the soil.
It helps in the conservation of soil.
It absorbs water and mineral from the soil.
Some plant’s root store food like carrot, radish, sweet potatoes, turnip etc
Root binds the soil and prevents soil erosion.
Shoot -The part of plant that grows above the ground is called shoot.
It includes stem, branches, leaves, buds, flowers, and fruits.
It is visible part of plant.
Stem – The part of plant just above the soil is called stem.
Stems can be soft and green or hard and woody.
Herbs, creepers, climbers have soft and green stem.
The hard, strong and woody stem of tree that is covered with bark is called trunk.
Tree trunk is covered with a tough layer called bark.
Functions of stem
Stem supports the upper parts of plants.
Stem hold the plants upright.
Stem carries the water and nutrients from roots to leaves
Stem carries prepared food by the leaves to other part of plants.
Stem bears branches, leaves, buds, flowers and fruits.
Stem helps in transport of the food prepared by the leaves.
Some underground stem stores food such as sugarcane, potato, ginger etc.
Based on growth habit plants are five types:
Herb
Shrub
Climber
Creeper
Tree
Herbs – The short plants with green, delicate stem without the woody are called herbs.
Ex: Tomato, wheat, grass Mint, Coriander, Spinach, Rosemary etc.
They have few branches or branchless.
These can be easily uprooted from the soil.
They contain enough nutritional benefits and vitamins to make it a part of the diet.
Herbs are very small and weak plants.
They have thin, green and soft stems.
They usually live for three to four months.
It can be used as medicines or to add flavor to food.
They are mostly known for their smell, which is pleasant and amazing.
Banana plant is the world’s largest herb.
Shrubs: The medium-sized plant with bushy, hard stems with branches is called shrubs.
Ex: Lemon, Rose, Hibiscus, Jasmine, Tulsi, Cotton and henna etc.
Shrubs are much taller than herbs which may grow up to height of five to six meters.
They are smaller than Trees. They are highly branched from the base of the stem. They have many thin, brown and woody stems.
They are also called bushes.
Shrubs usually live for a few years.
Its stems are hard; they are flexible but not fragile.
Climbers – The plants which need support to climb are called climber.
Ex:-Pea plant, money plant, Grapevine, Bean etc.
Climbers have a very weak stem but they can climb upon along with some support to grow and carry their weight.
These types of plants use special structures called tendrils to climb on.
They must climb on other plants, sticks or walls to grow.
Creepers – The plants which creep on grounds are called creepers.
Ex: Pumpkin, Gourd, Watermelon, Muskmelon, Watermelon etc.
They have very fragile stems that can neither stand erect nor support all of its weight.
Creepers are weak plants that mostly grow along the ground.
They have weak stems and thin branches.
They usually bear big fruits.
Trees – The big and tall plants are called tree.
Ex– Banyan, Mango, Cashew, Neem, Pine, Peepal, Banyan, Coconut etc.
Trees have very thick and hard stems called the trunk.
This single main stem i.e., trunk give rises to many branches bearing leaves and fruits.
Some trees are branchless like coconut tree; they have only one main stem which bears leaves, flowers and fruits all by itself.
Branches – The wooden structures coming out from the stem are called branches.
Branches bear fruits, flowers, buds etc.
In many plants a subsidiary branch come out from main branches is called sub-branches.
Functions of Branches
Branches transport water and minerals from the stem to various parts of the plant.
Leaves – The green, flat lateral part of plant is called leaf.
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The parts of plant where transpiration and photosynthesis occur are called leaves.
Work – leaves make food for the plants hence the leaves are called the kitchen of the plants.
Leaves are of different shapes and sizes.
The outer surface of the leaf has a waxy coating which protects the leaf.
The flat surface of the leaf is called leaf blade or lamina.
It has veins running across within the leaf.
The pit of the leaf is called apex.
The thin tube running in the middle of the leaf is called main vein.
The tiny pores present on the lower surface of the leaves are called stomata.
Stomata help in the exchange of gases.
Stomata can be seen only under microscope.
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Importance of Leaves
Leaf is very important part of the plant.
Leaf contains green pigment called chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll provides the green color to the leaf.
The process of making in the green leaves of plants with the help of air, water, sunlight is called photosynthesis.
Due to preparation of food in leaves they are called the food making factories of plants/kitchen of plant.
Flowers – The most attractive and colorful parts of a plant are called flowers.
Each flower types have a different physical structure, color and scent
Buds of the plants grows into flower
Flower finally becomes fruit enclosing the seed or seeds.
The world largest flower is the Rafflesia.
Uses of Flower
Many flowers such as rose and jasmine are used for making perfumes.
Some flowers edible such as cauliflower, broccoli and banana.
Flowers are used for decoration on different occasions.
Flowers are used for preparing bouquets, garlands and rangoli.
Flower contains nectar; bees use this to make honey.
When petals of flower fall then a small fruit start to appear inside the flower.
Fruits – The fleshy or dry ripened part of a plant, enclosing the seed or seeds is called fruit. Ex- orange, mango, apple, grapes etc
Mature ovary is called fruit.
The fruit protects and nourishes the seeds present inside fruits.
Some fruits have one seed such as mango and cherry.
Some fruits have many seeds such as papaya and watermelon.
Seeds – The hard part inside the fruit is called seed. Ex- Seed of orange, mango, apple etc
Most plants grow from seeds.
Seed of some plants are eaten.
Ex-pomegranate, banana, fig, guava, kiwi, grapes etc.
Seed of some plants are not eaten.
Ex- Apple, chikoo and many other fruits.
Pineapple has no seed.
Seeds grow into baby plants.
Germination In Plants – The process of growing of a new plant from the parts (seeds, stem, and leaves) of old plant is called germinations.
Generally plants are grown from seeds.
When seeds get water, air and sunlight (warmth) in proper amount it start to germinate.
The new coming plant is called seedling.
Seedling grows gradually and turns into a matured plant.
Plant Needs
Plants are living organism and need food for growth.
Plants prepare their own food.
The necessary ingredients plants need to make their food are:-
Sunlight:
Plants leaves absorb sunlight as required by the plant.
Some plants need more sunlight and some need less.
There are plants that need shade as they require very limited amount of sunlight.
Sufficient water:
Water is required for the healthy growth of plants.
Too much or too little water will harm the plants and plant may die.
Plant absorbs water by roots.
The amount of water needed varies between all types of plants.
Carbon dioxide:
Plants take in carbon dioxide through leaves and gives out oxygen in the process of photosynthesis.
