1. A look at the system structure of plants Evan Ehman

2.  Photosynthesis is how most plants produce their own food. It occurs on the leaves of plants which can very in size and shape, depending on the plant.  Plants make Glucose out of water, Carbon dioxide and light energy from the sun.

3.  H 2 O moves from the soil into the roots, then is transported through the Xylem tissue to the leaves.  CO 2 from the air diffuses into the leaves through the Stomata.  Cells trap light using Chloroplasts for energy.  Energy splits the H 2 O. Oxygen leaves the leaf to the atmosphere, hydrogen reacts with CO 2 to for Glucose.

4.  Equation for Photosynthesis: 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2  Glucose is used for: Respiration, turning it to sucrose and transported to other parts of the plant, and converted to starch and stored.

5.  The Stomata (in botany terms) are found on the leaves and green stems of plants. They open the tissue and control the exchange of gases and water vapor.  Fun Fact: The word Stomata from the Greek language meaning, mouth.

6.  The roots of a plant help anchor a plant to the ground, and provide it with the water and dissolved minerals in needs to survive. The roots also store the products of photosynthesis perennials need to survive the winter months.

7.  The Xylem tissues are long hollow tubes made up of dead lignified cells. The dead cells work ideal because they don’t absorb any water.  The cell arrange themselves end to end to form one long tube. These tubes transport water and dissolved minerals that enter through holes called “pits”, then travel up the stem.  They also help support the stem structurally.

8.  Long tubes made up of specialized cells called sieve tubes, fibers and parenchyma. The Phloem runs alongside the Xylem tissue. It transports food nutrients such as glucose and amino acids through the plant.

9.  Parenchyma (in botany) are cells found throughout the tissue of plants. Their spherical and flexible shape allows for structural adaption depending on their various functions.

10.  Stems and leaves of plants have a waxy coating around them call cuticle. This coating prevents water in plant tissue from evaporating.

11.  Land plants in order to reproduce will either produce a spore(asexual), or a seed(sexual). They are the result of a completed process of reproduction of plants.  Flowering plants may rely on bees to transfer pollen from one plant to another. Allowing the male structure to mate with another plants female structure. This is a example of sexual reproduction.  Asexual reproduction however involves pieces of the original plant, or the structural modification of leaves, stems and roots to reproduce.

12.  A seed is a small organ that contains an embryo, food supply, and a protective coating.  A spore is a reproductive cell that is able to grow without another reproductive cell.

13.  Hormones regulate the growth and development of a plant.  Chemicals produced are transported around the plant to produce physiological change.

14.  Auxin promotes cell elongation, which is a cells method of adaption to their functions and environment.  Auxin produced in the tip of main shoot inhabits growth of side branches.  Cytokinins stimulate cell division. They also help delay aging of tissue and are responsible for mediating Auxin transported throughout the plant.

15.  Gibberellins cause the plant to grow taller. Dwarf plants do not produce gibberellin thus cause them to be shorter.  It is also used to increase a plants seed germination and bud development.  Ethylene is a gas produced in higher plants and is often associated with the ripening of fruits.

16.  Positive phototropism is a plants growth towards a light source. Negative being the growth away from light.  Positive phototropism is the most common response when the chemical Auxin reacts from the light causing the far side of the plant to have elongated cells.

17. Survival of the Plant  All of these components are required to work together to protect the plant from its environment and prolong its life. Strong roots and sturdy tissues are required for the plant to hold up in strong winds and other forces acting upon it. Stomata and cuticles hold water and let the necessary energy into the plant to feed it. And hormone chemicals and seeds ensure the growth of the plant and the reproduction of it for future generations. Take away any one of these elements, and the plant will all but disappear from existence.

18. Bibliography  Xtreme Papers: Transport in Plants, http://www.xtremepapers.com/revision/gcse/biology/transport_in_plants.php - 2012 http://www.xtremepapers.com/revision/gcse/biology/transport_in_plants.php  Xtreme Papers: Plant Nutrition, http://www.xtremepapers.com/revision/gcse/biology/plant_nutrition.php - 2012 http://www.xtremepapers.com/revision/gcse/biology/plant_nutrition.php  Wikipedia: Vascular tissue, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vascular_tissue - 2013http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vascular_tissue  Wikipedia: Xylem, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylem - 2013http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylem  The Encyclopedia of Earth: Stomata, http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/156262/ - 2012 http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/156262/  Biology4kids: Plant Reproduction, http://www.biology4kids.com/files/plants_reproduction.html - 2013 http://www.biology4kids.com/files/plants_reproduction.html  Wikipedia: Plant reproduction, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_reproduction - 2013 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_reproduction  Britannica: Spore, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/560952/spore/ - 2012 http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/560952/spore/  Plant hormones, http://www.plant-hormones.info/index.htm - 1992http://www.plant-hormones.info/index.htm

19.  CMG Garden notes: Plant Structure Roots, http://www.ext.colostate.edu/mg/gardennotes/132.html#func tion – 2013 http://www.ext.colostate.edu/mg/gardennotes/132.html#func tion