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Kineton Primary Shape Gang - Plants

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Most Plants have 6 basic parts:

Roots
Stem
Leaves
Flowers
Fruits
Seeds

Roots

roots The roots help provide support by anchoring the plant and absorbing water and nutrients needed for growth. They can also store sugars and carbohydrates the plant uses to carry out other functions. Plants can have either a taproot system (such as carrots) or a fibrous root system (such as turf grass). In both cases, the roots are the links between the water and nutrients needed for plant growth.

Stems
Stems carry water and nutrients taken up by the roots to the leaves, and then the food produced by the leaves moves to other parts of the plant. The cells that do this work are called the xylem cells (move water) and phloem cells (move food). Stems also provide support for the plant allowing the leaves to reach the sunlight they need to produce food.

Leaves

Leaves are the food making factories of green plants. Leaves come in many different shapes and sizes. Leaves can be simple, made of a single leaf blade connected by a petiole to the stem (oak, maple), or compound, in which the leaf blade is divided into separate leaflets attached by a petiole to the stem (ash, locust).
Leaves are made to catch light and have openings to allow water and air to come and go. The outer surface of the leaf has a waxy coating called a cuticle which protects the leaf. Veins carry water and nutrients within the leaf.

Leaves are the site of the food making process called photosynthesis. In this process, carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll (the green pigment) and light energy are changed into glucose (a sugar). This energy rich sugar is the source of food used by most plants.

Photosynthesis is special to green plants! Photosynthesis supplies food for the plant and oxygen for other forms of life.

A green plant helped make the oxygen you are breathing today.

Flowers

Flowers not only look pretty but, in fact, are important in making seeds. Flowers have some basic parts. The female part is the pistil. The pistil usually is located in the centre of the flower and is made up of of three parts: the stigma, style, and ovary. The stigma is the sticky knob at the top of the pistil. It is attached to the long, tube like structure called the style. The style leads to the ovary which contains the female egg cells called ovules.

The male parts are called stamens and usually surround the pistil. The stamen is made up of two parts: the anther and filament. The anther produces pollen (male sperm cells). The filament holds the anther up.

During the process of fertilization, pollen lands on the stigma, a tube grows down the style and enters the ovary. Male sperm cells travel down the tube and join with the ovule, fertilizing it. The fertilized ovule becomes the seed, and the ovary becomes the fruit.

Petals are also important parts of the flower because they help attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies and bats. You can also see tiny green leaf-like parts called sepals at the base of the flower. They help to protect the developing bud. Insects and other animals help some flowers become pollinated.

Fruit

The fruit is the ripened ovary of a plant containing the seeds. After fertilization, the ovary swells and becomes either fleshy or hard and dry to protect the developing seeds. Many fruits help seeds spread (maple seeds). Many things we call vegetables are really fruits (tomato, cucumber, beans).

Every seed is a tiny plant (embryo) with leaves, stems, and root parts waiting for the right things to happen to make it germinate and grow. Seeds are protected by a coat. This coat can be thin or thick and hard. Thin coats don't protect the embryo well. But thick coats can let the embryo survive some tough conditions.

The seed also contains a short-term food supply called endosperm. This is found in the plant's cotyledons. Plants with one cotyledon (like corn) are called monocots. If they have two cotyledons (like beans), they are called dicots. Seeds are a plant's way of getting from one area to another.

What do Plants need to grow?

All plants need these seven things to grow: room to grow, the right temperature, light, water, air, nutrients, and time.

Room to grow

All plants like to have room to grow. The above ground portions of the plant need space so leaves can expand and carry out the job of making food. Roots also need room to grow. Plants growing in small spaces will have their roots crowded, and that results in smaller amounts of growth.

Temperature

Most plants like temperatures that most humans like. Some may like warmer temperatures while others may prefer cooler temperatures for best growth. It is always good to know where plants come from so you can make them feel at home. Most plants like to have cooler temperatures at night and don't like to be in a drafty spot.

Light

Plants grown indoors like bright light. Windows facing the south or west have the best light. Try to place the plants close to the window to take advantage of all the light. The further away from the window, the darker it becomes. A plant will tell you when it isn't getting enough light, because its stems will be thin and it will lean toward the light.

Water

Water is important in the plant's ability to make and move nutrients. Without water or with too much water, a plant dies. For this reason, watering is an important part of plant care. Most plants like to be watered when the soil is slightly dry to the touch. When watering, moisten the soil by using enough water so that it starts to come out of the hole in the bottom of the container. (This is why it is important to use containers with drainage holes.) How often you water depends on a lot of things. Plant size, time of the year, and type of plant are a few. Your best guide, though, is to feel the soil. If you stick your finger one inch into the soil and it is dry, then water your plant.

Animation of Carbon Dioxide/Oxygen Exchange

Air

Plants use carbon dioxide in the air and return oxygen. Smoke, gases, and other air pollutants can damage plants.

Nutrients

Most of the nutrients that a plant needs are dissolved in water and then taken up by the plant through its roots. Fertilizers will help to keep the soil supplied with nutrients a plant needs. Don't apply too much too often. Fertilizer won't solve all of your plant problems, so make sure your plants have good light, good soil, and good drainage. The three most important nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.

Nitrogen is used for above ground growth. This is what gives plants a dark green color. Phosphorous helps plant cell division. It aids in flower and seed production and in the development of a strong root system. Potassium helps fight off disease and provides for strong stems.

Time

It takes time to grow and care for plants. Some plants require more time to grow than others. Getting plants to flower or fruit at a certain time can be challenging. Plants that normally grow outdoors need a certain number of days to flower or fruit. You can time plants to flower or fruit on a certain date. This is a good lesson in both plant science and math.

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DISCLAIMER; Although care has been taken in preparing the information supplied on this web site, Kineton CEVA Primary School do not and cannot guarantee the accuracy of it. Kineton CEVA Primary School cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Opinions expressed within the pages of this site are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of any organisation, company or anyone associated with them.