PLANT BIOLOGY NOTE 1
DEFINITION OF PLANT
Plants are living organisms which has chloroplast or green pigments and can carry out
photosynthesis. They are extremely important to life on Earth. Plants are found everywhere on the
planet. They grow on mountains, valleys, deserts, fresh and salt water ecosystems. Plants have
different shapes and sizes, from the smallest seedling to the giant plants. They play a vital role in
keeping people, animals, and the Earth healthy.
Functions of plants
All parts of plants are important and carry out different functions. Plant parts perform their respective
functions for the healthy life of the plant.
1. Plants provide food, medicine, shelter, and the oxygen we need. They manufacture their
food and the food of other organisms through photosynthesis.
2. Plants provide shelter and habitats for many animals.
3. Soil also needs plants. When plants die they decompose and provide topsoil that is rich in
nutrients and helps seeds to germinate and grow into seedlings.
4. Plants also help to slow erosion because their roots hold soil in place.
5. During the process of photosynthesis in plants, they absorb carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere and release oxygen for us to breathe. Carbon dioxide uptake can also help
mitigate the greenhouse effect and climate change.
6. Plants are important in maintaining biodiversity. One plant species may be source of food
for animal in the ecosystem.
Two major plant systems are the shoot system and the root system. The shoot system are parts of
the plant structures growing above the ground eg. stems, leaves (Figure 1), flowers, fruits, seeds,
nodes and internodes. The root system are parts of the plant structures located below the ground
eg. roots.
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DEFINITION OF PLANT
Plants are living organisms which has chloroplast or green pigments and can carry out
photosynthesis. They are extremely important to life on Earth. Plants are found everywhere on the
planet. They grow on mountains, valleys, deserts, fresh and salt water ecosystems. Plants have
different shapes and sizes, from the smallest seedling to the giant plants. They play a vital role in
keeping people, animals, and the Earth healthy.
Functions of plants
All parts of plants are important and carry out different functions. Plant parts perform their respective
functions for the healthy life of the plant.
1. Plants provide food, medicine, shelter, and the oxygen we need. They manufacture their
food and the food of other organisms through photosynthesis.
2. Plants provide shelter and habitats for many animals.
3. Soil also needs plants. When plants die they decompose and provide topsoil that is rich in
nutrients and helps seeds to germinate and grow into seedlings.
4. Plants also help to slow erosion because their roots hold soil in place.
5. During the process of photosynthesis in plants, they absorb carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere and release oxygen for us to breathe. Carbon dioxide uptake can also help
mitigate the greenhouse effect and climate change.
6. Plants are important in maintaining biodiversity. One plant species may be source of food
for animal in the ecosystem.
Two major plant systems are the shoot system and the root system. The shoot system are parts of
the plant structures growing above the ground eg. stems, leaves (Figure 1), flowers, fruits, seeds,
nodes and internodes. The root system are parts of the plant structures located below the ground
eg. roots.
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