Structure of

Plants

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 Primary vs. secondary growth
1. Primary growth – occurs in
apical meristems of shoots and roots
• Results in increase in length

2. Secondary growth – derived

from secondary or lateral meristems
• Results in increase in girth (width)
• Common in trees (wood and bark)
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Roots:
(Anchors. Absorbs water & nutrients from soil)

* Two Types
1. Taproot = deep into soil
2. Fibrous Roots = several branching main roots

* Root structure
- Root Cap the rounded tip containing dead cells.
- Root hairs increase surface absorption area
- Xylem transports substances up to the plant
- Phloem brings food down to the growing root

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Fibrous Roots Tap Root

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Stems: support the plant and carry substances
between the roots and leaves.

* Some stems also store food (starches) like in

asparagus.

* They vary in size and shape:

- Boabab tree has a huge stems.
- Cabbage have short, hidden stems.

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Structure of Roots
• Root cap covers
the apical
meristem at the
tip of the root &
produces  a slimy
substance so
roots can more
easily grow
through the
ground
• Apical meristem
replaces cells of
the root cap as
they are damaged
 Structure of Roots
• Epidermis covers the outside of the root &
has extensions called root hairs that
absorb water & minerals and increase the
surface area of the root
 Structure of Stems
• Leaves are attached
to stems at nodes &
have lateral buds
that can develop into
new stems or
branches
• Internode is space
between nodes on a
stem
Leaves: Many different sizes, shapes. (Pine
needles, cabbage, oak, etc.)

* Capture sun’s energy for photosynthesis

* Structure of a leaf:
- Upper surface cells
- Chloroplasts
- Veins with xylem and phloem
- Underside surface cells
- Stomata
(“stoma” in Greek means “mouth”, opening)

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The Structure of a Leaf

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Cuticle
Upper Epidermis
Palisade mesophyll
Vascular Bundle

Spongy mesophyll

Lower Epidermis
Lower Epidermis

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Flower Structure: Not all flowers have same
parts. Some have only male parts.

* Sepals = leaf-like structures covering a bud.

* Petals = colorful structures of an open flower.

* Stamens = male parts (stalks topped by knobs)

* Pistils = the female parts in the center of the

flower.
- Stigma = sticky tip of the pistil
- Style = tube connecting stigma to ovary.
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The Structure of a Flower

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14
 Parts of a Seed Embryo
• Primary root or Radicle
• One or two embryonic leaves called
Cotyledons
• Plumule becomes the shoot
• Stem like portion below cotyledons
called Hypocotyl
• Stem like portion above cotyledons
called Epicotyl
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Endosperm (3n)

Seed Coat

Cotyledon
Plumule

Epicotyl

Hypocotyl

Radicle
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Flower Structure

Stigma
Filament
Style
Anther
Ovary

Receptacle

Petal

Sepal Ovule

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