Seed Plant Structure
Plants can be divided into three principal parts (or organs in your book):
● a) Roots
● b) Stems
● c) Leaves
Plant Growth
● Plants grow throughout their lives at the tips of their roots and at their stems.
○ These cells undergo mitosis in meristems, clusters of tissue responsible for
continuing growth throughout a plant’s lifetime.
○ Apical meristems are cells that undergo mitosis to lengthen roots and shoots.
○ Thus, in a plant, we have to shoot apical meristems and root apical meristems.
○ Over time, these cells undergo differentiation, or mature into cells with
specialized structures and functions.
,Plant Roots
Roots function as:
● An anchor for the plant
● Transport water and nutrients up to the rest of the plant
● Hold a plant upright
● Protect the plant from harmful soil bacteria and fungus
Plant Roots
● Plants' roots usually fall into one of two categories: taproots or fibrous roots.
, Plant Roots
● Taproots are long, thick, and can grow really deep to reach water/nutrients deep in the
soil.
● Taproots also serve as a large storage center for nutrients.
● Think of why some weeds are so difficult to kill…
Plant Roots
● Fibrous roots branch a lot more than taproots.
● Each “root” is approximately the same size.
● Root system is closer to the surface and helps guard against erosion.
Plant Roots
● Roots also have root hairs, small hairs that penetrate small spaces in-between soil.
Plants can be divided into three principal parts (or organs in your book):
● a) Roots
● b) Stems
● c) Leaves
Plant Growth
● Plants grow throughout their lives at the tips of their roots and at their stems.
○ These cells undergo mitosis in meristems, clusters of tissue responsible for
continuing growth throughout a plant’s lifetime.
○ Apical meristems are cells that undergo mitosis to lengthen roots and shoots.
○ Thus, in a plant, we have to shoot apical meristems and root apical meristems.
○ Over time, these cells undergo differentiation, or mature into cells with
specialized structures and functions.
,Plant Roots
Roots function as:
● An anchor for the plant
● Transport water and nutrients up to the rest of the plant
● Hold a plant upright
● Protect the plant from harmful soil bacteria and fungus
Plant Roots
● Plants' roots usually fall into one of two categories: taproots or fibrous roots.
, Plant Roots
● Taproots are long, thick, and can grow really deep to reach water/nutrients deep in the
soil.
● Taproots also serve as a large storage center for nutrients.
● Think of why some weeds are so difficult to kill…
Plant Roots
● Fibrous roots branch a lot more than taproots.
● Each “root” is approximately the same size.
● Root system is closer to the surface and helps guard against erosion.
Plant Roots
● Roots also have root hairs, small hairs that penetrate small spaces in-between soil.
