Roots, Stems, and Leaves
Life before reproduction Reproduction is essential to a species’ success Plants have to grow to the point that they are mature enough, and healthy enough, to reproduce. Roots, stems, and leaves are the workhorse structures of plants.
Roots Obtain water and dissolved nutrients from soil and mycorrhyzae Anchor plant Are point of contact for mycorrhizal fungi
Types of roots Primary root - from embryo Aerial root Primary root - from embryo Secondary roots –from primary root Adventitious roots –from leaf nodes May be modified for support or defense or … Adventitous roots
Root structures Tap roots – from primary root Fibrous roots – from adventitious or secondary roots Tuberous roots – thickened ROOTS Tubers are thickened stems Tuberous root Stem, not root http://www.museums.org.za/bio/images/enb7/enb07429x_beetroot.jpg http://trc.ucdavis.edu/egsutter/plb171/VisualMaterial/largePhotoSStruc/TubersPic/tuber-potato99lable.jpg
Rhizomes: underground stems, not roots Rhizomes have nodes and reduced leaves Rhizomes often root at nodes Rhizomes enable a plant to spread and reproduce Rhizomes are most common in mesic and wet habitats
Stems Hold up above ground parts of plant; transmit signals Prickles Hold up above ground parts of plant; transmit signals Have leaves and may have branches Woody or herbaceous Leaves and branches may be Opposite Alternate Whorled (Verticillate) May have hairs, prickles, thorns, spines Alternate Spines
Caudex (pl.: caudices) Woody stem that does not or only scarcely extends above ground
Woody stems also have … Lenticels Leaf scars Bark http://www.virtualherbarium.org/treepuzzle/chars/LENTICELS_ABUNDANCE.html http://www.science.siu.edu/plant-biology/PLB304/TwigPics/AcerSaccharinum.jpg http://home.tiscali.nl/picturesandadicons/dtp/1024x768dtp3/Bark.jpg
Leaves – absolutely vital Evaporation surface (essential to nutrient transport) Energy converters Absorb sunlight Take in CO2 from air Release O2 as by-product Food and shelter for others http://www.huntington.org/BotanicalDiv/TitanPix/leaves.jpg
Leaf structure Simple Lobed, Divided, pinnatifid, palmatifid, pedate, cleft, parted http://www.esb.utexas.edu/mbierner/bio406d/images/pics/ast/Ambrosia%20psilostachya%20lf2.jpg http://www.discoverlife.org/nh/tx/Plantae/Dicotyledoneae/Aceraceae/Acer/saccharinum/images/JP80036_61.Simple_leaf_position:Opposite.320.jpg
Compound Palmately Pinnately Odd pin Even pinnate
Flat, revolute, involute
Leaf margins Entire, Crenate, Dentate, Serrate Crispate or undulate Crenate margins Leaf margins Serrate margins Entire, Crenate, Dentate, Serrate Crispate or undulate Spinose Dentate margins Crisped leaf Undulate leaves Spinose leaf
Leaf apices http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/classes/botany306/terminology/vegetative/images/leaves/apices.jpg
Leaf bases and attachment http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/prairieplant.terminology/leaf_bases1.jpg