Trees grow from seeds or cuttings. Seeds germinate after being dispersed from the tree, developing roots and shoots. The seedling grows leaves and becomes a sapling. Roots absorb water and minerals from the soil which travel up through the xylem cells to the leaves. Leaves use photosynthesis to produce food from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen. Transpiration occurs through pores in leaves, releasing water vapor. Food travels down the tree through phloem cells as new layers of xylem and phloem are added through the cambium layer, making the tree grow taller and thicker.

1. Trees

6. Stages of growth in a young tree 1) radical grows down into the soil plumule grows towards the surface, 2) As leaves form this is know as the seedling stage 3) Sapling stage

11. Tree Structure

12. Tree Structure