Plant Structure & Function Don’t make it more complicated than it is!

Stems 2 Functions Support the leaves (hold them up to the light) Transport water & food within the plant via its vascular system

Vascular System Xylem Phloem Plant tissue that transports water & dissolved minerals from the roots up toward the leaves Phloem Plant tissue that transports glucose from the leaves down the plant

Xylem & Phloem are arranged in vascular bundles 3 Types of Stems

1. Dicot Stems Bundles arranged in a circle around the outer edge of the stem Examples: Tomato, cucumber & weeds Phloem Fiber Cells

Xylem Fiber Cells

2. Monocot Stems Randomly arranged bundles of vascular tissue Examples: Grasses, corn, lilies

3. Woody Stems Have a thin layer called cambium (also called the growing layer) between the xylem & phloem New cambium grows 1x per year, thus giving us tree rings! Bark = outer portion of stem Inner portion of bark contains phloem If you peel the bark, you could kill the tree

Roots Functions: Absorb water and dissolved minerals Anchor the plant to the soil *Meristem – undifferentiated plant tissue from which new cells (meristematic cells) are formed. They keep the plant growing. ex. can lengthen roots

Structure of Roots Primary root First root to grow out of a seed

Taproot If the primary root grows down into the soil and remains the largest root, we call it the taproot Ex. Carrots, beets, turnips & sweet potatoes are taproots that store food Fibrous root If the primary root develops into many small roots near the surface of the soil, we call it a fibrous root Ex. Many monocots such as grasses & orchids

* Note - Root hairs increase absorptive surface area

Leaves Function #1: Function #2: Photosynthesis (plants make sugar for food) & Respiration Function #2: Transpiration (evaporation of water from plant leaves)

Changes in the shape of the guard cells result in opening & closing of stomata. (Plant Epidermal Cell)

Allows water, CO2 & H20 to pass in & out Leaf structure Allows water, CO2 & H20 to pass in & out *Dermal tissue – covers outside of plants & animals *Ground tissue – tissue that makes up the majority of a plant

Working with your group, create a Venn Diagram on the back of your chart! Vascular Nonvascular