PLANTS
Learning Objectives:
-To explain the different types of root modification and stem modification in
plants.
-To describe the structure of a leaf and modifications.
To analyse the different parts of a flower and its functions.
To explain the process of pollination.
GIVE REASON FOR THE FOLLOWING
1. Cotyledons help the baby plant to grow.
Cotyledons store food for the baby plant until it prepares its own food.
2. Plants in marshy areas have breathing roots.
Marshy areas have clogged soil in which the roots cannot breathe, hence the plants
develop breathing roots.
[Link] is an important part of a plant.
Flower is the reproductive part of a pant and hence it is important.
4. Stem give support to the upper part of the plant.
Stem gives support to the upper part of the plant by holding it firm, upright,
conducting food and water and towards sunlight.
[Link] lower part of the leaves have stomata.
Stomata are present in the lower part of the leaves to check the loss of water
through transpiration.
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS BRIEFLY.
[Link] between reticulate venation and parallel venation.
The net-like arrangement of veins as seen in the leaves of rose and hibiscus plants
is called reticulate venation. These leaves have a broad lamina and a petiole.
The parallel arrangement of veins as seen in the leaves of maize and wheat plants
is called parallel venation. These leaves have a smooth and long lamina but do not
have a petiole.
[Link] the different root modifications with an example of each.
i) Food-storing roots: Carrot, radish and beetroot
ii) Prop roots: Banyan and maize
iii) Climbing roots: Betel, black pepper and money plant
iv) Breathing roots: Mangroves
[Link] has two-way transport mechanism. Justify.
Stem transports water from roots to all parts of the plant and transports food from
leaves to all parts of the plant. Hence, it is said to have a two-way transport system.
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
[Link] between taproot and fibrous root with one example each.
Taproot structure with one main root and many branches give anchorage to large
trees like mango.
Fibrous or cluster roots help plants like sugarcane and maize to spread along the
ground for anchorage, water and nourishment.
2Why do stems get modified? Give any three example and explain how these
modification help the plant.
Stems of plants get modified to perform special functions.
Vegetables such as potatoes, onions and ginger are underground stems that store
food. For storing food, underground stems get modified into three main types:
tuber, bulb and rhizome.
Potatoes are examples of stem tubers. They have small depressions on their surface
known as ‘eyes’. The eyes are actually nodes that have buds from which a new
shoot can grow.
Onions are examples of bulbs and ginger is an example of rhizome.
Some plants such as bougainvillea and rose have thorns growing on their stems,
which are the modified stems or branches of that plant. These thorns protect the
plants from predators.
Plants such as grapevine or bitter gourd have weak stems and are unable to stand
erect on their own. Such stems depend on walls, other strong plants or trees for
support to grow erect or they simply spread on the ground.
3. What are the different parts of a leaf? Explain with a diagram.
4. Explain three modifications of leaves.
i. Leaf tendrils: In some plants, leaves are modified into slender, often closely
coiled structures
known as tendrils. Tendrils are sensitive to contact with objects. Therefore,
whenever they come in
contact with a neighbouring object, they coil around it and help the plant to climb.
Examples: Pea
plant, glory lily and wild pea.
ii. Leaf spines: Leaves of certain plants become wholly or partially modified into
sharp, pointed
structures known as spines. These spines can be used for defensive purpose or may
also be a
means to check the rate of transpiration. Examples: Prickly pear and cactus.
iii. Scale leaves: These are typically thin, dry, stalkless and membranous
structures, usually brownish in colour or sometimes colourless. Their function is to
protect the young leaf bud that they enclose. When scale leaves are thick and
fleshy, as in onion, then their function is to store water and food. Onion is an
example of plants with scale leaves.
5. Explain the structure of a flower with a neat and labelled diagram.
Critical Thinking
[Link] plant shows both root and stem modifications. What are those?
The roots of money plants are adventitious roots which are modified into climbing
roots. These roots start from the nodes and inter-nodes of its weak stem and will
attach themselves for some support to climb over it. Thus, they provide support to
the plant.
[Link] have found that plant diversity increased on earth with the evolution of
insects. Do you think its true?
Insects help to transfer pollen grains from one plant to another. The evolution of
insects would have helped plants to spread widely across the globe.
SUCCESS CRITERIA:
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