PLANT

STRUCTURE

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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

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The Body of seed plant

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 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)

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Angiosperms, flowering plants, are divided into two groups:
monocots and dicots

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 Monocots vs. Dicots
Monocots Dicots

Floral Arrangement 3's 4's and 5's

:
Leaf Venation : Parallel Net

Vascular bundles Scattered Ring

Habit Herbaceous Herbaceous + Woody

Roots Tap root

Fibrous
Growth Primary and
Primary only Secondary
Examples: Grass, Palm, Oaks, Roses,
Sunflowers
Orchid
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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.

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the scattered vascular bundles of the corn stem the ringed array of vascular bundles in this
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 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

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Plant stem

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 Spermatophytes
 Includes flowering or seed-bearing plants.
 The two subdivisions are….
 Gymnosperms
 Angiosperms

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Plant Characteristics

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 Identifying Plants
 Physical characteristics are used to identify
plants which include….
 Life Cycle
 Form
 Foliage Retention
 Plant Parts
 Use & Location

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 Life Cycle
 Annuals
 Plants that complete their life cycle in one
year.
 Biennials
 Plants that complete their life cycle in
two years.
 Perennials
 Plants that live more than two years.

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 Growth Habits

 Trees
 Shrubs
 Vines

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 Growth Forms
 Columnar  Round
 Spreading  Oval
 Weeping  Pyramidal

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 Growth Forms

Spreading

Columnar

Weeping
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 Growth Forms

Round Oval Pyramidal

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 Foliage Retention
 Deciduous
 Loses leaves during the dormant season.
 Evergreen
 Keeps leaves and remains green year-round.

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