Key Differences: Types of Plants and Their Characteristics
What are Plants?
Plants are the multicellular, photosynthetic, eukaryotes, which are grouped into a separate kingdom of Plantae. A well-defined cell and its specialized organs, as do animal plants, which are mainly associated with their cellular functions. The only living species that can manufacture their own food are plants, and this is mainly because of the presence of specialized structures in the plant cell.
Different types of plants can be seen by us in our garden, few are small, tiny, short, big trees with colourful flowers and fruits. There are different types of plants which are classified into their own categories.
Parts of Plants
A plant is divided into two main parts: Root system and the Shoot system.
Root System:
A root system is the underground part of the plant’s body, which constitutes the major part of the plant, roots, which is mainly grown downwards into the soil. These roots usually have a root cap at its tip and root hairs. The main functions of roots are:
Store food in some plants.
Helps in vegetative reproduction.
It helps in the anchoring of the plant’s body deep into the soil.
Absorbs and transports water, minerals and other nutrients from the soil.
Shoot System:
The aerial part of the plant is the shoot system, which usually develops above the ground level. In this stem, leaves, buds, flowers, fruits, and seeds are included.
Stems:
Stems are the long, supportive axis of plants. Stems are tender, strong or woody as in trees or thin and green like herbs. It is the central axis of the plants. Functions of stem include:
Provide support to the entire plant.
Stores food in the form of starch.
Hold and connect to leaves, buds, flowers, fruits and help them to stand erect.
Helps in the transportation of water, minerals and other nutrients in both the directions.
Leaves:
Leaves are the most crucial part of the shoot system. They are also called as the food factory of the plants. Functions of leaves include:
Helps in the Floral Induction.
Involved in the exchange of gases.
As a food storage organ of the plant it can be served.
Synthesizes food through the process called photosynthesis.
Plays an important role in the removal of excess water through its tiny pores called stomata.
Flowers:
The most colourful part of a plant is flowers. It is also called the reproductive part of a plant as it carries the reproductive organs. The main functions of the flower are:
Pollination.
Reproduction.
Formation of fruits.
Fruits:
In the shoot system fruits are also a part, which holds seeds within them. Fruits are developed from the ovaries in the flowers of the plants. The main functions of fruits are:
Involved in the production of seeds.
Helps in the Dispersal of the matured seeds.
By acting as a barrier between the seed and the external environment it protects the seed..
Classification of plants
Plants are classified into several types and their classifications are based on:
Based on the Reproduction
Plants are classified into, based on the production of flowers, fruits, and seeds:
1. Flowering plants: Apple, banana, mango, peach, and pear are few examples of flowering plants.
2. Nonflowering plants: Cypress, and pine, are a few examples of non-flowering plants.
Based on their Life Cycle
Based on these criteria, plants are classified into:
1. Annuals: Corn, rice, wheat, and pulses are a few examples of annual plants.
2. Biennials: Carrot, onions, and beetroot are a few examples of biennial plants.
3. Perennials: Rose, lavender, dianthus, and lilies are a few examples of perennial plants.
Based on their Growth Habitats
Based on their height and other growing habitats plants are also classified:
1. Herbs: Grass, Mint, and wheat are a few examples of herbs.
2. Shrubs: Henna, lemon, and rose are a few examples of shrubs.
3. Trees: Banyan, mango, cashew, are some examples of trees.
4. Climbers: Pea plant and money plant, are examples of Climbers.
5. Creepers: Watermelon and pumpkin are examples of Creepers.
Fun Facts
1. Plants play a major role in our life. There would be no more life existing on planet earth without plants. With the supply of food to eat, air to breathe, fabrics to cover our body, shelter, medicines, timbers and many products for human use, plants help us. Around three lakh identified plant species have there are, and this list is still increasing.
2. An average size tree can provide enough wood to make 170,100 pencils.
3. From the tree bark of a willow tree the first type of aspirin, painkiller and fever reducer came.
4. In the ocean there can be found 85%of plant life.
5. Bananas contain a natural chemical which can make people feel happy.
6. The name Brazil is named after a tree.
7. The Amazon rainforest produces half the world’s oxygen supply.
8. Cricket bats are made of a tree called Willow and baseball bats are made out of the wood of the Hickory tree.
9. The tallest tree ever was an Australian eucalyptus – In 1872 it was measured at 435 feet tall.
FAQs on Getting to Know Plants: Easy Guide to Plant Parts
1. What are the main categories of plants based on their size and stem type?
Based on the nature of their stems and their overall size, plants are broadly classified into three main categories as per the CBSE Class 6 syllabus:
- Herbs: These are small plants with soft, green, and tender stems. They usually have a short lifespan. Examples include tomato, mint, and coriander.
- Shrubs: These are medium-sized, bushy plants. Their stems are hard and woody but not very thick, with branches arising from near the base of the stem. Examples include rose, jasmine, and lemon.
- Trees: These are tall and large plants with a thick, hard, and woody main stem called the trunk. Branches arise from the upper part of the trunk, much above the ground. Examples include mango, neem, and banyan.
2. What is the primary function of the stem in a plant?
The stem is a crucial part of the plant that performs two primary functions. Firstly, it provides structural support, holding the plant upright and bearing branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits. Secondly, it acts as a transport system, conducting water and minerals absorbed by the roots up to the leaves and other parts, and transporting food prepared by the leaves down to the rest of the plant.
3. How can you demonstrate that the stem transports water to different parts of a plant?
You can perform a simple activity to observe water transport through the stem. Take a glass of water and add a few drops of red or blue ink. Place a small herb with a soft stem (like a balsam plant) and white flowers into the glass. After a few hours, you will notice that the veins in the leaves and the petals of the white flower show coloured streaks. This happens because the stem's vascular tissue, the xylem, has absorbed the coloured water and transported it upwards, proving the stem's function in water conduction.
4. What is transpiration and why is it important for a plant?
Transpiration is the process by which plants release excess water in the form of water vapour through tiny pores, called stomata, located on the surface of their leaves. This process is important for two main reasons: it helps in cooling the plant, and it creates a suction pull that helps draw more water and minerals up from the roots to the leaves.
5. What is the difference between reticulate and parallel venation in leaves?
Venation refers to the arrangement of veins in a leaf. The two main types are:
- Reticulate Venation: In this type, the veins form a net-like or web-like pattern on both sides of the main vein (midrib). This is characteristic of dicot plants like mango, rose, and peepal.
- Parallel Venation: In this type, the veins run parallel to each other from the base to the tip of the leaf. This is commonly found in monocot plants like grass, wheat, banana, and maize.
6. Is there a connection between the type of root a plant has and the venation in its leaves?
Yes, there is a very interesting and consistent connection. Plants that have a taproot system (a main central root with smaller lateral roots) almost always have leaves with reticulate venation. Conversely, plants that have a fibrous root system (a cluster of thin, similar-sized roots) typically have leaves with parallel venation. This relationship allows you to predict a plant's root type just by observing its leaves.
7. What are the main parts of a flower?
A typical flower consists of four main parts, or whorls, arranged on the tip of the stalk:
- Sepals: The green, leaf-like outermost parts that protect the flower in its bud stage.
- Petals: The often colourful and fragrant parts inside the sepals that attract pollinators like insects and birds.
- Stamen: The male reproductive part of the flower, consisting of the anther and filament. The anther produces pollen grains.
- Pistil (or Carpel): The female reproductive part at the centre of the flower, consisting of the stigma, style, and ovary. The ovary contains ovules.
8. Why are flowers often colourful and fragrant?
The bright colours and sweet fragrance of flowers serve a very important biological purpose: to attract pollinators. Insects, birds, and other animals are drawn to these vibrant displays and scents. As they move from flower to flower to feed on nectar, they transfer pollen grains from the stamen of one flower to the pistil of another. This process, known as pollination, is essential for the plant's reproduction and the subsequent formation of fruits and seeds.
9. What gives plant leaves their green colour?
The green colour of plant leaves comes from a pigment called chlorophyll. This chemical is contained within cell structures called chloroplasts. Chlorophyll is not just for colour; it plays a vital role in photosynthesis, the process where plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create their own food (glucose) and release oxygen.
