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 3s Dicots: flower parts in 4s, 5s, 6s

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

Stems
Monocots: small vascular bundles scattered throughout the stem. Dicots: large vascular bundles arranged in a ring around the stem.

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.

 Make a table with columns for monocot and dicot. In the front are several plant samples. With a partner, observe the sample plants. Use what features you can see (flowers, leaves, some roots) to classify these as monocots or dicots. Write the name of the plant in the appropriate column in your table.

Plant Tissues
Dermal tissue Ground tissue Vascular tissue

Copy this table:

Primary Sub-types tissue type
Epidermis

Structure

Functions

Dermal
Periderm Parenchyma

Ground

Collenchyma Sclerenchyma Xylem

Vascular
Phloem

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 dont 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?