PLANT STRUCTURE

AND FUNCTION
SEKOLAH GLOBAL MANDIRI
Marcheli.alexandratalita@teacher.globalmandiri.sch.id
Plants: Grouped by
characteristics
Vascular
Three main parts: roots, stems and leaves
Roots can be different sizes:
Fibrous and tap roots
Storage roots; beets, carrots, sweet potatoes and turnips
Roots have different functions: anchoring the plant, taking in
water and minerals, and store food.
Nonvascular
Simple; most grow in moist places
No vascular tissues.
 PLANT ORGAN

a protective
covering that makes seeds.
surrounds the
seed
makes the plant's
food.

carries water and food

to the rest of the plant.
anchor the plant
in place and
absorb water
and other
minerals from
the soil.
ROOT
TAP ROOTS

FIBROUS ROOTS

ADVENTITIOUS ROOTS
Primary Growth in Roots
Roots increase in length
through cell division,
elongation, and
maturation in the root
tip. A root cap covers
the apical meristem. It
produces a slimy
substance allowing the
root to move easily
through the soil. Root
hairs are extensions of
the epidermis that
increase surface area.
Secondary Growth in Roots
This occurs in gymnosperms and dicots.
The vascular core of a primary root is surrounded by the
pericycle.
The pericycle produces lateral roots.
 Root Functions
Anchor the plant in the soil
Absorb water and minerals
13 minerals are required for normal
growth
Adapted to store carbohydrates
Usually stored as starch and stored in
parenchyma cells
Potatoes, sweet potatoes,
carrots, turnips
Modified Roots
Anatomy of roots
Epidermis
To protect the other parts of plant cell
Cortex
Contain pharencima cells
Have function for gas exchange and storage nutrient
Endodermis
Have casparian strip to forces fluids from outside through
plasma membrane = selective absorption
Vascular cylinder
Contain pericile to form root brach
Contain xylem and floem
ROOT (c.s.)
 Monocot vs Dicots Roots
epidermis

endodermis

xylem

phloem

Vascular tissue matures to form the innermost cylinder of the root. In the dicot, the xylem
forms an X and the monocot has a prominent endodermis. The cortex is between the
epidermis and endodermis. The cortex and the endodermis compose the GROUND TISSUE.
Longitudial Section Roots
Vascular Plants: Stems
Function of stems
Support, transport of water & food
Most stems grow upward
Some stems grow sideward
Types of stems
Green
Woody
Transport of materials
Xylem & phloem
STEMS MORPHOLOGY
STEMS ANATOMY
Epidermis
It has cuticule.
A plant cuticle is a protecting film covering the epidermis of
leaves, young shoots and other aerial plant organs without
periderm. It consists of lipid and hydrocarbon polymers
impregnated with wax, and is synthesized exclusively by the
epidermal cells.
Cortex
On young leaves has a fucntion to photosyntesis too
Endodermis
Vascular cylinder
Xylem to bring minerals from roots
Floem to deliver photosyintesis product
Stems Anatomy
Monocot vs Dicot
Vascular Plants: Leaf
Leaves come in variety of shapes and sizes
Leaves are arranged in different ways
Flower