Plant Classes and Parts Basic Plant Science AFNR-BAS-13: Explain and demonstrate basic plant science principles including plant health, growth and reproduction.

Uses of Plants Plants provide for the three basic human needs: food: fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, etc. clothing: cotton, linen, wool, leather (plants feed the animals that grow the wool and leather) shelter: lumber and other wood products www.OneLessThing.net

Uses of Plants direct source: the plant or plant products are used by humans fruits, nuts, vegetables, cotton indirect source: humans use the animal and animal products that feed on plants and plant products beef, leather, chicken, wool www.OneLessThing.net

Uses of Plants Plants are also used by humans for ornamental and aesthetic reasons to provide comfort or beauty. landscaping (flowers, shrubs, trees, turf) ornamental horticulture and floral design (house plants, cut flowers forestry and outdoor recreation (wildlife habitat, hiking, hunting) www.OneLessThing.net

Major Groups of Plants gymnosperms: means “naked seed” in Greek plants that produce seeds not protected by fruit examples: pines, firs, spruces, redwoods, ginkgo www.OneLessThing.net

Major Groups of Plants angiosperms: in Greek means “covered seed” or “enclosed seed” plants that flower and produce seeds protected by fruit or pods examples: apples, peaches, pecans, soybeans www.OneLessThing.net

Major Groups of Plants There are two classes of angiosperms with distinct characteristics. cotyledon: an embryonic leaf which become the seed leaf monocotyledons (a.k.a. monocots); “mono-” - means “one” dicotyledons (a.k.a. dicots); “di-” means “two” www.OneLessThing.net

Major Groups of Plants monocotyledons (a.k.a. monocots) seeds have one cotyledon therefore the seedlings have one seed leaf the vascular bundles are scattered the leaves have parallel veins flower parts are in multiples of three www.OneLessThing.net

Major Groups of Plants dicotyledons (a.k.a. dicots) seeds have two cotyledons therefore the seedlings have two seed leaves the vascular bundles are arranged in a circle the leaves have netted veins flower parts are in multiples of four or five www.OneLessThing.net

Taxonomy (Naming Plants) scientific names are in Latin and printed in italics common names can be confusing because different areas call plants by different names binomial nomenclature two-name system first name is the genus second name is the species species can be further subdivided into varieties www.OneLessThing.net

Plant Life Cycles Annuals: plants that complete their life cycle in one year (or one season) examples: marigolds, pansies, petunias, melons, beans, squash (and many other flowers, crops, and weeds) www.OneLessThing.net

Plant Life Cycles Biennials: plants that complete their life cycle in two growing seasons grows vegetative structures (roots, stems, leaves) in the first year and then after a period of dormancy during cold months, it will produce flowers and seeds before dying examples: carrot, parsley, onion, cabbage, hollyhock, Black-eyed Susan www.OneLessThing.net

Plant Life Cycles Perennials: plants that produce for more than two years or growing seasons may die back during the winter months and then return from their rootstock examples: azalea, alfalfa, pine trees, maple trees, fruit and nut trees, blueberries There are two classes of perennials. herbaceous: plants that have soft stems that are killed by frost woody: plants with hardy stems that can survive winter frost www.OneLessThing.net

Plant Processes photosynthesis: the chemical process converting sunlight into energy and food for the plant respiration: the process of plants using stored energy transpiration: the movement and loss of water through evaporation www.OneLessThing.net

Plant Parts Roots: anchor the plant absorb water and minerals store manufactured food primary root: the single main root secondary roots: small roots that branch off the main root root hairs: many tiny roots that increase the surface area of the root for absorption root cap: protects the growing tip of roots www.OneLessThing.net

Plant Parts Types of Roots: tap root: root system with one thick main root fibrous roots: system with many small roots adventitious roots: grow from the stem or leaf of a plant example: corn has roots above ground to prop up the stalk www.OneLessThing.net

Plant Parts Stems: support the leaves, flowers, and fruit conduct water, minerals, and food store food and water produce new stem tissues www.OneLessThing.net

Plant Parts Two types of conductive tissues in the stem: xylem: transports water and minerals from the roots phloem: transports food from the leaves both are created by the cambium which becomes growth rings in trees the xylem and phloem are arranged in a ring in dicots and scattered in moncots www.OneLessThing.net

Plant Parts Leaves: produce food for the plant through photosynthesis epidermis: protective layer of cells cuticle: waxy coating that prevents water loss stomata: pore-like openings on the underside of the leaf that allow gas exchange guard cells: control the opening and closing of the stomata mesophyll: where photosynthesis takes place; made up of palisade layer and the spongy layer veins: contain xylem and phloem and transport water and nutrients www.OneLessThing.net

Plant Parts Flowers: purpose of flowers is to reproduce through the production of seeds sepals: the outermost part of a flower (usually green) that protects the unopened flower and supports the petals when it blooms as a whole all the sepals are called the calyx petals: attract insects and birds for pollination; usually conspicuously colored www.OneLessThing.net

Plant Parts Flowers: stamen: the male part of the flower anther: produces the pollen which contains the male sex cells filament: supports the anther pistil: the female part of the flower stigma: provides a sticky surface to catch pollen style: supports the stigma ovary: produces the female sex cells and becomes the fruit www.OneLessThing.net

Flower Anatomy www.OneLessThing.net

Plant Parts Flowers: complete flowers: flowers that have all the parts (sepals, petals, stamen, and pistil) incomplete flowers: flowers that lack one of the four main parts - petals, sepals, pistil, or stamen male flowers will not have a pistil and female flowers will lack stamen monoecious: plants that have male and female flowers on the same plant dioecious: plants that have male and female flowers on separate plants www.OneLessThing.net

Plant Parts Fruit: a mature (fertilized) ovary containing the seed or seeds may be fleshy or dried fleshy fruit are soft and may be consumed by humans or animals as food which helps to disperse the seeds; examples include pumpkin, apple, tomato dry fruits have hard seeds www.OneLessThing.net

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