A typical plant consists of roots, stem, leaves and may bear flowers and fruits. Green leaves make food through the process of photosynthesis. Leaves also carry out transpiration. Roots absorb water and important minerals from the soil. It also gives anchor to the plant. Stem helps in carrying the water and minerals from the root to various parts of the plant and carry food from the leaves to other parts. It also stores excess food. It also gives support to the plant.
Plants play very important role on earth. They provide food and oxygen to all other living things. Plants are seen almost everywhere. They grow on land, on mountains, in deserts and under sea. We know plants grow mostly from seeds when they get enough water, sunlight and air.
Root is the underground part of the plants body and grows towards the force of gravity. It fixes the plant within the soil and absorbs water and mineral nutrients from the soil. It stores excess food.
It consists of one main long thick root growing downwards from which many thinner roots develop. Taproot goes deep into the soil for searching for water and minerals. Examples: sugar beet or carrot, bean, tea, peepal etc. have tap root.
In case of fibrous root there is no main root. It consists of a dense equal size roots that arise from the stem. The roots grow downward and outward from the stem, branching repeatedly to form a mass of fine roots. Fibrous root does go very deep in the soil. Example: lilies, grasses, wheat, rice, palm etc. have fibrous root.
It is the aerial part of the plant body and enables a plant to grow taller to gain access to energy-giving light, and helps plant to prepare food. It is composed of erect stems on which are attached leaves, flowers, branches and buds. Leaves are attached to the stem at regions called nodes.
It supports the upper parts of plants. It carries the water and nutrients needed for plants to grow from roots to leaves and food produced by the leaves to other part of plants. Big trees like neem, mango, peepal etc. have strong, thick and woody stem. Such stem is called trunk. Some plant have thick but soft stem, example banana. Some plants have weak, soft and green stem as in case of climbers and creepers, example watermelon, money plant etc.
Leaves are of different shapes and sizes. The outer surface of the leaf has a waxy coating which protects the leaf. The flat surface of the leaf is called leaf blade or lamina. It has veins running across within the leaf. Tiny opening on the surface of the leaves called stomata helps in the exchange of gases. Stomata can be seen only under microscope.
Flowers are the most attractive part of a plant. Each flower types have a different physical structure, color and scent from those of other flower type plants. Buds of the plants grows into flower and flower finally becomes fruit enclosing the seed or seeds. Some fruits have one seed such as mango and cherry. Some fruits have many seeds such as papaya and watermelon.