MORPHOLOGY OF

PLANTS
 How does a plant
“ EAT & DRINK ”?
PLANT STRUCTURE
 1. ROOT functions
1. Anchor the plant in one place for its entire life.

2. Store large amounts of energy reserves.

3. Transport water and dissolved nutrients to and from the shoots.

4. Absorb large amounts of water and dissolved minerals from the soil.

5. Some roots are capable of performing photosynthesis, as in the epiphytic,

orchids and aerial roots of mangrove.

6. Plants that grow in stagnant water/ other watery places have modified roots called
pneumatophores to which oxygen from the air diffuses.
Taproot Fibrous root

Adventitious root
2. STEM functions
1. Support the leaves, flowers and fruits and connects them with the roots.

2. Conducts water, nutrients and the products of photosynthesis to and

from roots and leaves.

3. Store water, as in cacti, and the products of photosynthesis, as in the

trunk of sago palm (Metroxylon sagu) and sweet palm (Arenga pinnata)
which store large stock of starch;

4. Young green stem also performs a minor role in the production of food
through the process of photosynthesis, but in some species (e.g. cactus)
the stem is the chief photosynthesizing organ.

5. Asexual reproduction in many plant species .

3. LEAVES functions
1. Photosynthesis. The process of producing food, known as
photosynthesis, mainly occurs in the leaves of most angiosperms.

2. Transpiration. Plants lose a large volume of water through the leaves in the
form of vapor.

3. Floral Induction. The plant leaves synthesize and trans-locate the flower-
inducing hormone called florigen to the buds.

4. Food Storage. The leaves serve as food storage organ of the plant both
temporarily and on long-term basis.

5. Special uses. In banana, the leaf sheaths provide the physical support, often
called pseudo stem, to raise the leaves upward.
 LEAF ARRANGEMENT
• The arrangement of leaves called phyllotaxy.
• Leaves may be arranged in 3 ways:

ALTERNATE OPPOSITE WHORLED

( 1 leaf per node ) ( 2 leaves per node ) ( 3 or more leaves per node )
 LEAF COMPOUND
Leaves may be simple or compound. If a leaf has one lamina then it is
simple leaves. If it has more than one lamina then it is compound.

ODD-PINNATE EVEN-PINNATE PALMATELY BIPINNATELY

COMPOUND COMPOUND COMPOUND COMPOUND

Pinnately compound Has no leaflet at the Has three or more The leaflets are
leaf with leaflets paired tip of the rachis leaflets radiating from attached to both sides
along the rachis and a one point of one central rachis
single leaflet at the tip
LEAF SHAPES
LEAF MARGIN
 The flower - reproductive organs, produce
seeds. After fertilization, portions of the
4. FRUIT functions flower develop into a fruit containing the
seeds.
1. Protect seeds from external condition which may damage the seeds.
2. As food for humans and animals.
3. Prevent disease.
4. Aid weight loss and supply variety to diet.
5. Powerhouses of nutrition.

Skin = exocarp
Eat/fleshy = mesocarp
Pit/ inner layer that surrounds the seed = endocarp
 1. SIMPLE FRUITS
1 pistil, 1 or many seeds
a) FLESHY (Berry,Drupe,
Pepo)
b) DRY (Dehiscent or
indehiscent)

Carpel (Single)
2. AGGREGATE
FRUITS Aggregation of
flower with numerous Drupes
simple pistils (raspberry)

3. COMPOSITAE/
MULTIPLE FRUITS
from a cluster of flowers
(called an inflorescence). Each
flower produces a fruit, but
these mature into a single
mass.
FRUIT CLASSIFICATIONS
5. FLOWER functions
1. Fruit production. Flowers make fruits that hold the seeds of
the plant.

2. Advertisement and rewards to lure a pollinator.

3. Aesthetic qualities.
4. Cut flowers and potted blooming plants.

5. Plant identification.
FLOWER PARTS
FLOWER INFLORESCENCE
 FLOWER INFLORESCENE
1. SOLITARY flower 3. RACEME flower

2. SPIKE flower 4. PANICLE flower

 FLOWER INFLORESCENE
5. UMBEL flower 7. CORYMB flower

6. CATKIN flower
8. HEAD flower
 SELF POLLINATION CROSS POLLINATION
(Monoecious) (Dioecious)
Different flowers and different plants on the
same species
A1
A
A
A5 B
Different flowers but on the same plant
Same flower and on the same plant

FLOWER POLLINATION
 Biotic agents:
Flowers with brightly colored petals and
attractive chemical scents attract insects,
and animals (bats, birds, etc) that act as
agents of pollination.

POLLINATION AGENTS
-through fruits (seed), flowers (pollen)

Abiotic agents:
Flowers with less attractive
Characteristics usually id through
wind-pollination and water
Source: biology-igcse.weebly.com