The plant cycle Mrs. Pumphrey

seed A plant begins as a simple seed. Inside the seed are all of the parts of the future plant, dormant in their immature form. There is an immature root, stem and small leaves. When planted in the ground, the seed will germinate and begin to grow. The tiny root will work its way down as the tiny stem works its way up

seedling The small plant that first makes its appearance is the seeding. It has a small, vulnerable stem with a few small leaves. With sunlight and water, this seeding will grow larger and more mature. The stem and root will grow longer, and new leaves will appear on the plant.

Flowering plant When the plant reaches maturity, flowers will form. The flower is different for each plant, yet all contain the same basic parts. Most flowers use color and scent to attract insects to help them pollinate. Once pollinated, the flowers will begin developing seeds. Some plants protect the seeds inside a fruit that houses the seeds until they are ready.

Releasing new seeds When the new seeds are ready, they will be released back out into nature. For some plants, this means dropping fruit onto the ground to rot or be eaten by animals. Other plants release their seeds in unique ways, such as being blown by wind or by sticking to animal fur.

Seed again At this point the cycle begins again, with a small seed finding its way into the ground. This seed will sprout and grow into a new plant that looks exactly like its parent plant. When this seed begins to grow, the cycle will start over again.