This document discusses the parts and functions of plants. It covers the main plant parts: roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds. Roots have two main systems - taproots and fibrous roots. Roots function to absorb water and nutrients, transport them to the stem, anchor the plant, and store food and water. The stem transports water and nutrients between the roots and leaves. Leaves perform photosynthesis to produce food from carbon dioxide and water, and transpiration to exchange gases and water.

1. Plant Parts &
Functions
Jean Lacob
Covering:
5th
grade CA State
Standard 2e

2. Parts of The
Plant
• Roots
• Leaves
• Stem
• Flower
• Seed
Image found at: www.webinstituteforteachers.org

3. Roots
• 2 Types of
Root Systems
– Taproot
– Fibrous
System
Image found at: http://www.puc.edu

4. Roots
Taproot System
Primary roots grow
down from the stem
with some
secondary roots
forming
Image found at: http://www.arboretum.fullerton.edu

5. Roots
Fibrous
Root
System
Small lateral
roots that
spread out just
below the soil
surface Image found at: www.wildmanstevebrill.com

6. Can you identify these root
types?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

7. Root Functions
• Absorption of water and nutrients
– performed by root hairs
• Transportation of water and
nutrients to stem
• Anchor plant to maintain stability
• Store food and water
Roots have 4 primary functions

8. Parts of the Root
• Epidermis
– Outermost layer of cells, like the “skin” of
the root
• Cortex
– Tissue inside epidermis that stores starch
and other substances for the growth of the
root

9. Carrot root cross section, 40X
• A= vascular cylinder contains
the (xylem and phloem)
• B = cortex
• C = endodermis (contains cells
which prevent water from
leaking from the vascular
cylinder)
• D = epidermis (protects the
carrot root and absorbs water)
Image found at: www2.sluh.org/bioweb/microscopy/plantanatomy/carrotrootlabel

10. Xylem and Phloem

11. Cross- section of a stem
Image found at www.karencarr.com

12. Functions of the
Stem
• Transport water and nutrients
from roots to leaves
• Supports leaves, fruit, and
flowers
• Food storage

13. What plants need:
• Watch this animated movie to see what
plants need and what they produce.
• Click Here for movie

14. Important Functions of
Leaves
• Photosynthesis
– Process that plants use to produce
their food
– Carbon Dioxide + Water  Sugar + Oxygen
• Transpiration
– Loss of water and exchange of carbon
dioxide

15. Leaf Parts
• Apex
– Tip of leaf
• Base
– Attaches to petiole
– if petiole is absent,
– attaches directly to stem
• Margin
– Edge of leaf
• Epidermis
– “Skin” of leaf - responsible for gas exchange
• Stomata
– Outside layer of leaf opening in epidermis where gas and
water exchange
• Mesophyll
– Middle layer of leaf where photosynthesis occurs

16. Veins
Stalk
Main
Vein

18. Cross-section of a Leaf
Image at: EnchantedLearning.com