Plant Organ Systems

The Root System:

composed of typically underground structures that absorb water and minerals from
water or soil
Types of root systems:
• Tap root – one long very deep root with small
roots/ root hairs branching off. Example:
carrot, dandelion
• Fibrous root – many smaller roots with large
surface area, but not very deep Example:
grass
• Adventitious roots – roots that grow from
other parts of the plant rather than the base.
Example: Banyan tree, Ivy

The Shoot System​:

The shoot system is composed of:

a) Leaves​:
● The main photosynthetic structure of the plant – usually large surface area
● Photosynthesis word equation:
Chlorophyll
Light energy + Carbon Dioxide + Water Glucose + oxygen

● Consist of veins made of vascular tissues that transport substances

● Contain pores called ​stomata​ which allow for gas exchange
 b) Flowers/Spores/Cones:

Flowers:
● are important for reproduction as they attract
pollinators to help with fertilization
● contain specialized structures important for
reproduction
o Male reproductive parts: stamen and anthers
which contain the pollen (sperm)
o Female reproductive parts: stigma and ovary
which contain the ovule/ova/egg
● some flowers will have both male and female parts allowing for self-pollination

Sexual reproduction in Plants:

● The pollen (male) lands on stigma and creates a pollen tube which carries the pollen to
the ovule where it fertilizes the egg.
● Pollen is transported to the stigma with the help of insects, wind, or animals
● Pollination results in the formation of seeds. Some seeds are enclosed in a fruit, which is
actually the ovary.
● The seeds are transported to other geographical locations through seed dispersal
mechanisms such as animals eating fruits and eliminating seeds as waste, carrying them
on their fur, blowing in the wind, falling off the parent plant.
● Seeds become new plants in favourable conditions.

Spores:

● Some plants such as mosses and ferns reproduce using spores

● Spores can grow in to mature plants if conditions are right

Cones:
● Coniferous plants (also called ​evergreens​) produce
cones
● Cones can be male or female. Male cones produce
pollen. Female cones contain ovules and eggs.

c) Stems:

● Variety of stems
● Stems support the other structures of the plant
● Stems can be green and fleshy like grasses and flowers or dry and bark covered like in
trees
● Stems contain vascular tissue to transport water and nutrients from the roots to the
leaves, and sugars from the leaves to storage in the roots or other tissues