1. Organs: Leaves Leaves – the main photosynthetic organs
These are examples of different leaf arrangements.
Simple Leaf – single, undivided blade, some are deeply lobed
Compound Leaf – blade consists of multiple leaflets, a leaflet has no axillary bud at its base
Doubly compound Leaf – each leaflet is divided into smaller leaflets
Note the petiole and axillary bud on each of these diagrams
Leaves – the main photosynthetic organs

2. Types of Leaves These are examples of different leaf arrangements:
Simple Leaf – single, undivided blade, some are deeply lobed
Compound Leaf – blade consists of multiple leaflets, a leaflet has no axillary bud at its base
Doubly compound Leaf – each leaflet is divided into smaller leaflets
Note the petiole and axillary bud on each of these diagrams

3. Leaf Adaptations
Some plant species have leaves with adaptations that function in support, protection, storage, or reproduction in addition to photosynthesis.
Once again, not required, but more examples of evolution are always good to include.
Tendrils – cling to support this pea plant; tendrils are typically modifies leaves, but some are modified stems as in grapevines
Spines – the spines of this prickly pear are actually leaves, photosynthesis is carried out by the fleshy stem
Storage leaves – found on succulents for the storage of water
Reproductive leaves – produce adventitious plantlets which fall off the leaf and take root in the soil
Bracts – often mistaken for petals, surround a group of flowers; these brightly colored leaves attract pollinators

4. Transport water and products of photosynthesis
Plant Tissues
Tissue
Components
Function
Dermal
Epidermis
Periderm
Protection
Prevent water loss
Ground
Parenchyma
Collenchyma
Sclerenchyma
Metabolism
Storage
Support
Vascular
Phloem
Xylem
Transport water and products of photosynthesis
Students do not need to memorize the different tissue systems or the names of their component cell types (no test questions about parenchyma, collenchyma, etc.), but the general layout of a plant and how these various systems interact would be good to understand.
To that end, we provide the next few slides:
There are three types of plant tissue; dermal, ground, and vascular. As in animals, dermal tissue is associated with covering and protection and therefore easy to identify. Likewise, vascular tissue is associated with transport. The materials needing special vessels for transport in plants are water and the sugars produced during photosynthesis. Ground tissue comprises those tissues that can not be identified as either dermal or vascular. It is in the ground tissue that life processes take place in a plant.

5. Location of Tissue Types
Which tissue type in most abundant in plants?
How is this representative of “form fits function”?
Allow students to study the location of the different tissue types and infer the function of the different tissues.
Ground tissue is the most abundant. This is the tissue where photosynthesis, food storage, regeneration, support, and protection take place. In other words, the processes of life occur in this tissue. The dermal and vascular tissues are dependent on the ground tissue. The emphasis here should be on important interactions between these systems, rather than on memorizing the system names themselves.

6. Dermal Tissue Forms epidermis, usually one cell layer
Some cells differentiate:
Stomata – pores for gas exchange
Trichomes – leaf hairs, protect against herbivores and damaging solar radiation
Root hairs – increase root surface area
Epidermal cells of the shoot system secrete a waxy cuticle that limits water loss, reflects damaging solar radiation, and form a barrier against pathogens
Once again, structure reflects function.
The opening formed by the two guard cells, the stomata, allows gas exchange.
Ask the students if they have had any experience with trichomes. How do they help protect a plant from herbivores?
The increased surface area afforded by the root hairs allows greater absorption.
Ask students what resources were needed by this radish seed for it to germinate.
Are the functions of root hairs similar to those of lateral roots and taproots? No, roots function in anchorage and root hairs function in absorption.

7. Ground Tissue Ground tissue is the most abundant tissue
Cells differentiate:
Parenchyma – most abundant, carry out photosynthesis, store protein and starch
Collenchyma– elongated, thick cell walls, provide support
Sclerenchyma– thick cell walls reinforced with lignin, programmed cell death, cell walls remain to provide support
Knowing and being able to identify the specific cell types is not essential, but a brief overview of the differentiation of these cells is foundational. Simply understanding that cells differentiate and that their resulting structure matches their function is important. We will not test on the specific cell types and/or their individual functions. Just make students aware that cells differentiate and these are good examples of such differentiations.

8. Vascular Tissue Transport System
Xylem – carries water and minerals from roots to rest of plants, composed of dead cells
Phloem – is composed of living cells, moves carbohydrates from production sites to where they are either used or stored
Xylem and phloem are the two transport vessels in vascular plants. They are composed of differentiated cells which are specialized for their function.