Plant AnatomySystems 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.

FlowersMonocots:

flower parts in 3’s

Dicots: flower parts in 4’s, 5’s,

6’s

LeavesMonocots:

parallel veins in leaves

Dicots: network of veins in the leaves

RootsMonocots: fibrous

root system with no main tap root.

Dicots: Main tap root, with smaller

side roots branching off.

SeedsMonocots: single

cotyledon; endosperm and cotyledon are

separate

Dicots: two cotyledons;

endosperm is contained in the

cotyledon.

Plant Tissues•Dermal tissue•Ground tissue•Vascular tissue

Copy this table:Primary

tissue type Sub-types Structure Functions

DermalEpidermis

Periderm

Ground

Parenchyma

Collenchyma

Sclerenchyma

VascularXylem

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 don’t 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?