PLANT STRUCTURE

The "Typical" Plant Body

The Root System

Underground (usually) Anchor the plant in the soil Absorb water and nutrients Conduct water and nutrients Food Storage

The Shoot System

Above ground (usually) Elevates the plant above the soil Many functions including:

photosynthesis reproduction & dispersal

food and water conduction

The Body of seed plant

Plant Structure
A. Classification of Plants 1. Some plants are non-vascular (=bryophytes) 2. Some plants are seedless, vascular plants (e.g., ferns) 3. Most plants are seed-bearing, vascular plants - gymnosperms (no flowers, e.g., conifers) - angiosperms (all produce flowers: dicots and monocots) B. Structure of Flowering Plants (= angiosperms)

Angiosperms, flowering plants, are divided into two groups:

monocots and dicots

Monocots vs. Dicots

Monocots Floral Arrangement : Leaf Venation : Vascular bundles 3's Parallel Scattered Dicots
4's and 5's

Net Ring

Habit
Roots Growth Examples:

Herbaceous
Fibrous Primary only Grass, Palm, Orchid

Herbaceous + Woody
Tap root Primary and Secondary Oaks, Roses, Sunflowers

Monocots have their flower parts in threes or multiples of three; example the tulip and lily (Lilium ). Dicots have their flower parts in fours (or multiples) or fives (or multiples). Examples of some common dicot flowers include the geranium, and citrus.

the scattered vascular bundles of the corn stem

the ringed array of vascular bundles in this dicot stem (Medicago).

Anatomy Of Monocot Stems

A cross section of the stem of corn (Zea mays) showing parenchyma tissue and scattered vascular bundles. The large cells in the vascular bundles are vessels

Plant stem

Spermatophytes

Includes flowering or seed-bearing plants. The two subdivisions are.

Gymnosperms Angiosperms

Plant Characteristics

Identifying Plants

Physical characteristics are used to identify plants which include.

Life Cycle Form Foliage Retention Plant Parts Use & Location

Life Cycle

Annuals

Plants that complete their life cycle in year. Plants that complete their life cycle two years. Plants that live more than two years.

one

Biennials

in

Perennials

Growth Habits

Trees Shrubs Vines

Growth Forms

Columnar Spreading Weeping

Round Oval Pyramidal

Growth Forms

Spreading

Columnar
Weeping

Growth Forms

Round

Oval

Pyramidal

Foliage Retention

Deciduous

Loses leaves during the dormant season.

Keeps leaves and remains green year-round.

Evergreen