Plants are living things which cannot move from place to place and need air, water,soil and sunlight to live. Plants are of different shapes and sizes. Different types of plants grow according to the seasons and climate of the place.
Types of Plants
We are surrounded by different types of plants. They are of two different types:
- Long living plants: The plants which live and bear fruits, flowers for many years are called long living plants. E.g: trees, shrubs.
- Short living plants : The plants which live only for a few months or one season are termed as short living plants. E.g: Herbs
Parts of a plant
Plants just like any other living things have different parts to carry out various functions. The important parts of a plant are :
-
Leaves
-
Bud
-
Flower
-
Stem
-
Fruits
-
roots
System of Plant Body
There are two important types of plant system :
Shoot system :
- All the parts of the plant that grow above the soil to get air and sunlight constitute the shoot system .
- It includes leaves, flowers, fruits and stems.
Root System:
- The part of the plant that grows below the soil is called the root system.
- Root system is composed of roots, tubers, and rhizomes.
Root System
The underground part of the plant is represented by the root system. Root is the main part of this system. Roots are the part of the plant that grows downward to absorb water, minerals and fixes the plant to the soil.
There are two different types of roots :
Tap Root:
It consists of one main single root that grows downward from which thinner roots or sub roots develop. These roots grow deep into the soil .
Examples: radish, carrots, beetroots etc
Fibrous Roots :
Instead of one main root they consist of a bunch of thin, small roots that grow from the stem. It helps in preventing soil erosion.
Examples: grasses, wheat, Maize etc
Also Check – Soil Erosion: Types, Causes, Effects, and Prevention Explained
Modified roots
However, in certain conditions these roots get modified to perform special tasks and are called Modified roots. Some of them are explained below:
Storage root :
These roots are modified for storage of food. These consist of swollen and fleshy roots which store food usually in the form of starch.
Examples: carrot, sweet potato, cassava
Aerial Root:
Aerial roots are the fibrous roots that are above the ground. It absorbs water from rainfall.
Examples: roots hanging from the branches of the stem of Banyan tree.
Aquatic Roots:
These are modified fibrous roots of aquatic plants that grow in watery places. It helps the aquatic plants to float.
Examples: water lily, lotus
The Shoot System
The part of the plant body that grows upward is represented by the soot system. All the parts of the shoot system perform different roles and help the plant in various ways. The main parts are leaves, flowers, branches and buds and stems. Let us learn about each part one by one.
Stem:
- It is the main part of the shoot which acts like a pillar of a plant as it supports the plant held up towards the light.
- The stem is responsible for the transportation of absorbed water and minerals from the roots to other parts of the plant.
- It also transfers the products of photosynthesis i.e., glucose from leaves to the rest of the parts of the plant.
Modified Stems
Usually , stems are located above the ground but some plants have modified stems to perform other functions that can be found either above or below ground. Some examples of modified stem are:
Tendrils :
In some plants stems are modified into green slender and spirally coiled structures called tendrils. It is usually found in climbing plants where it helps in climbing.
Example: grapevine, pumpkins.
Runners:
Modified stems that grow horizontally on the soil surface as opposed to upright like the main stem are called runners. The end tip of the runner produces buds that give rise to a new plant.
Example : Strawberry, Lawn grass.
Stolons:
Stolons are the modified weak stems which grow at the soil surface or just below the ground from the main stem. The terminal bud of stolon produces new shoots and adventitious roots.
Example : Jasmine, Hawkweeds
Water storing Stem:
Plants like cactus have green , thick, flat stems which perform all the functions of leaves. It stores water for long dry periods and manufactures food for the plant .
Example : in desert plants like cactus
Underground Modified Stem :
These stems entirely remain underground and only the leaves, flowers are visible above the ground. It is utilized for storage of food.
Example : potato, garlic, onion and ginger
Leaves
- Leaves are the photosynthetic structures which contain green pigment called chlorophyll that absorbs sunlight and makes food.
- Leaves prevent the loss of water from the plant, stores food.
- It also helps plants to breath in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen via stomata or pores.
- It is also known as food factory of plants
Parts of Leaf:
Leaves are of various shapes and sizes. The parts of a leaf are :
- Leaf blade or lamina: it is the flat and broad part of a leaf.
- Veins: a number of lines runs across within the leaf. They are called veins. The line which runs in the middle of the leaf is called the main vein.
- Stomata : tiny pores present on the lower surface of the leaves are called stomata.
- Petiole: the leaf blade is attached to the stem through a tiny stalk called a petiole.
Modified Leaves
In some plants the leaf is modified into different structures to perform special functions.
1) Tendrils-
Some leaves get modified into wire like coiled structures in order to provide support to the weak stem of the plant. They are called tendrils.
Example:– Pea
2) Spines:
The edges of the leaves are modified into spines in order to protect the plant from grazing animals. In cactus leaves are modified into spines for prevention of water loss from the plant.
3) Needle Leaves:
Needle-leafs are long, thin leaves that look like needles. Such modification is seen in plants like pines, firs etc.
Flowers
Flowers are the colorful most attractive part of the plant which grow from buds. It is the reproductive organ of flowering plants. Flowers have nectar that is a good source of food for other living organisms such as insects, birds, animals and humans.
Part of flowers
- Petals:
Petals are brightly coloured structures that give shapes and fragrances to the flower. It attracts insects towards the flower.
- Sepal:
It is a small part that looks like leaves growing at the base of the flower.
- Pedicel:
Stalk or part of the stem that supports the flower.
- Stamen:
It is the male organ of the flower. It is composed of two parts:
- Anthers: they are generally yellow coloured lobes that contain pollen sac for production of pollen grains.
- Filaments: it is the long thin stalk that holds anthers to the flowers
- Pistils/Carpels:
It is the female organ of the plant. It is composed of three sub parts:
- Stigma: it is the top most sticky part of pistil where the pollen grain lands.
- Style: it is the long stalk on which the stigma rests.
- Ovary: it is the swollen base of pistil at the bottom of a flower that contains ovules . ovules have flower eggs.
Check – How do plants reproduce?
Check – Structure Of Seed
Check – Germination of seed
Crops
Crops are plants of one kind grown in a particular area or region during a specific time in a field. It provides us with food and various other useful things. Different crops grow in different conditions. There are various kinds of crops . Some of theses are:
Food Crops: crops which are meant for human consumption. Example: wheat,rice,maize
Fiber Crops : crops which are grown to produce fibers. Example: jute, hemp, cotton
Oil Producing Crop: crops which are cultivated for the production of oil. Example: mustard, linseed,peanut .
Major Types Of Crop in India
All the crops are divided into two types:
Summer Crops
- Summer crops are also called Kharif crops .
- They are sown in the monsoon season(June-July) and harvested in Sept – October.
- Example of kharif crops: Rice, Maize, Jowa, Bajra
- Example of kharif vegetables: Onion, Pumpkin, Brinjal, Tomato
- Example of kharif fruits: Mango, Melon, Litchi
Winter Crops
- Winter crops are also called rabi crops.
- They are grown in winter season (oct-March)
- They are harvested in summer (April-June)
- Example of rabi crops: wheat, Barley, Gram
- Example of rabi vegetables: Carrot, radish, turnip
- Example of rabi fruits: Apple, banana, berry
List of practices to grow Good Crops
The following practices will help to grow good and healthy crops which in turn will give good yields.
- The crop should be grown in good quality soil and oil suited to the particular crop.
- Infectious free and good quality seeds should be sown.
- Manure and fertilizer should be used to improve the fertility of soil.
- Weeds should be timely removed by using weedicides.
- Adequate amount of water should be given for proper growth.
- Insecticides and pesticides should be used to protect the crops from damage caused by insects like locusts, plant lice etc.
- Field should be protected from animals like buffalo, cows .
- Ensure proper harvesting and storage of the crops.
Very good question answers. I always take science notes from classnotes123.