1. Seeds A seed contains an embryo and stored organic nutrients within a protective coat Highly resistant structures Protect embryo from drought, predators, & other unfavorable conditions Disperse offspring away from parent plant

2. Plant Structure Over 80% of all living plants are angiosperms Flowering plants have a root system and a shoot system Root system gives rise to roots Shoot system gives rise to stems and leaves

3. Root System Roots come directly off stem Usually equivalent in size and extent to shoot system Anchors plant in soil and provides support Absorbs water and minerals Cylindrical shape allows them to penetrate soil Root hairs (projections from root) increase ability to absorb water and mineral Roots produce hormones that stimulate growth of stems and coordinate size with roots

4. Perennial Root System Perennial plants have structures that live year after year They store products of photosynthesis in their roots Example - carrots & sweet potatoes are roots of such plants

5. Stems Main axis of plant that terminates in tissue that allows stem to elongate and produce leaves Support leaves so that each is exposed to as much sunlight as possible A node occurs where leaves are attached to stem and the internode is the region between nodes

6. Stems Has vascular tissue that transports water and minerals from roots and transports products of photosynthesis in opposite direction As tree grows taller, they accumulate nonfunctional woody tissue that adds to strength of stems In cactus, stem is the primary photosynthetic organ Tubers are horizontal stems that store nutrients

7. Leaves Major part plant that carries on photosynthesis Receive water by way of stem from roots Usually broad and thin (to maximize surface area for absorption of carbon dioxide and collection of solar energy needed for photosynthesis) Almost never woody

8. Leaves Wide portion of leaf is called blade (which may divide into leaflets) Petiole is the stalk that attaches the blade to the stem Axillary bud may become branch or flower (between petiole and stem) Some leaves aren’t foliage leaves, instead they are specialized (protection, attachment, storage)