Morphology of Flowering Plants 🌼

🌱 Introduction

Flowering plants have 5 main parts: roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits. They’re divided into two systems:

  • 🌍 Root system (underground)
  • 🌿 Shoot system (above ground with stems, leaves, flowers)

Understanding these helps us see how plants adapt to their environment!

🥕 5.1 The Root

Types of Root Systems:

  • Taproot (e.g., mustard):
    • Grows from radicle → forms primary root
    • Branches into secondary → tertiary roots
  • Fibrous (e.g., wheat):
    • Short-lived primary root
    • Many thin roots grow from stem base
  • Adventitious (e.g., grass):
    • Grows from anywhere except radicle

Root Functions:

  • 💧 Absorb water/minerals
  • ⚓ Anchor plants
  • 🥔 Store food
  • 🧪 Make growth regulators

Root Regions (from tip up):

  1. Root Cap 🧢 – Protects tip
  2. Meristematic Zone 🔬 – Cells divide rapidly
  3. Elongation Zone 📏 – Cells grow longer
  4. Maturation Zone 🌱 – Grows root hairs for absorption

🌿 5.2 The Stem

  • Grows upward from plumule (embryo)
  • Has nodes (leaf joints) and internodes (spaces between)
  • Bears buds (tip = terminal, side = axillary)
  • Starts green → turns woody/brown

Stem Functions:

  • ☀️ Holds leaves toward sunlight
  • 🚚 Transports water/minerals
  • 📦 Stores food (e.g., potatoes)
  • 🔄 Helps in plant propagation

🍃 5.3 The Leaf

  • Grows from nodes on stem
  • Has axillary bud (becomes branch)
  • Arranged in upward sequence
  • Main site for photosynthesis 🌿💡

⭐ NEET Must-Knows

  1. Root Types: Taproot (dicots), fibrous (monocots), adventitious
  2. Root Zones: Cap → meristem → elongation → maturation → root hairs
  3. Stem Structure: Nodes, internodes, buds; transport functions
  4. Leaf Function: Photosynthesis and bud development
  5. Plant Systems: Root (underground) vs. shoot (above ground)

Keep studying – you’re growing your knowledge just like plants grow roots! 🌻