Plant Anatomy Systems and Tissues Plant Structure Root

Plant Anatomy Systems and Tissues

Plant Structure Root and shoot systems are made up of basic plant organs: roots, leaves, stems, flowers.

Root system • What are the major functions of roots?

Shoot system functions • What are some of the major functions performed by the shoot system?

Structure is used in classification • Two main categories of flowering plants: monocots and dicots • The two groups are distinguished on the basis of flower parts, leaf veins, and other structural features.

Flowers Monocots: flower parts in 3’s Dicots: flower parts in 4’s, 5’s, 6’s

Leaves Monocots: parallel veins in leaves Dicots: network of veins in the leaves

Roots Monocots: fibrous root system with no main tap root. Dicots: Main tap root, with smaller side roots branching off.

Seeds Monocots: single cotyledon; endosperm and cotyledon are separate Dicots: two cotyledons; endosperm is contained in the cotyledon.

Plant Tissues • Dermal tissue • Ground tissue • Vascular tissue

Copy this table: Primary tissue type Dermal Sub-types Epidermis Periderm Parenchyma Ground Collenchyma Sclerenchyma Xylem Vascular Phloem Structure Functions

Dermal tissue: Epidermis • How is an epidermis of a plant similar to your epidermis? • What does the epidermis do? • What features do you see in these cells?

Dermal tissue: Periderm • How is the periderm like the layer of dead skin cells on human skin? • What does the periderm do? • What features do you see in these cells?

Ground tissue: Parenchyma • What can you see in these parenchyma cells? • What are some functions of parenchyma cells?

Ground Tissue: Collenchyma • How might support cells be different from other plant cells? • Plants don’t have a skeletal system as humans do. What holds a plant up? • What features do you see in these cells?

Ground tissue: Sclerenchyma • How are these thick -walled cells different from collenchyma cells? • What features do you see in these cells? • Sclerenchyma cells are dead at maturity. Why might that be?

Vascular tissue: Xylem • Xylem tissue moves water. What features would the cells need to carry out this function? • What features do you see in these cells?

Vascular tissue: Phloem • Phloem tissue moves sap, which is sugar dissolved in water. What features would the cells need to carry out this function? • What features do you see in these cells?