Getting to Know Plants

• Herbs, Shrubs, and Trees

  • Herbs
    • Short height
    • Green and tender stems
    • Few or no branches
    • Example: Tomato, Wheat
  • Shrubs
    • Medium height
    • Branching near the base
    • Hard but not very thick stem
    • Example: Lemon, Tulsi
  • Trees
    • Very tall
    • Hard and thick brown stem (bark)
    • Branches in the upper part
    • Example: Mango, Neem

• Stem

  • Functions
    • Transports water and minerals to leaves
    • Transports food from leaves to other parts
    • Bears leaves, flowers, and fruits
  • Modification/Special types
    • Creepers (weak stems that spread on the ground)
    • Climbers (take support of neighboring structures)

• Leaf

  • Parts of a Leaf
    • Petiole (stalk joining leaf to stem)
    • Lamina (broad green part / blade)
  • Venation (Design of veins)
    • Reticulate (Net-like design; associated with taproots)
    • Parallel (Venation runs parallel to each other; associated with fibrous roots)
  • Functions
    • Transpiration (release of water vapor through stomata)
    • Photosynthesis (making food using sunlight, water, and $CO_2$)

• Root

  • Main Functions
    • Anchorage (fixing plant firmly in the soil)
    • Absorption of water and minerals
  • Types of Roots
    • Taproot
      • One main root (taproot) with smaller lateral roots (lateral roots)
      • Example: Carrot, Beetroot, Gram
    • Fibrous Root
      • No main root; all roots look similar (fibrous)
      • Example: Grass, Wheat, Maize
  • Relation with Venation
    • Reticulate venation $\rightarrow$ Taproot
    • Parallel venation $\rightarrow$ Fibrous root

• Flower

  • Main Parts (Outer to Inner)
    • Sepals (Green, leaf-like, protects bud)
    • Petals (Brightly colored, attracts insects)
    • Stamen (Male part)
      • Anther (contains pollen)
      • Filament (stalk)
    • Pistil (Female part - innermost)
      • Stigma (Top sticky surface)
      • Style (Middle tube)
      • Ovary (Swollen base containing ovules)