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