Review the informaiton on Build a Salad sheet and also the Leaf Labs.
Know about all the parts of a plant and be able to identify them.
Also be able to identify leaves as: simple or compound, pinnate, palmate or
parallel, and stems as opposite, alternate or whorled. Also be able to define
examples of modified leaves.
The informaiton below will also help you.
Background Information
1. Roots
• Store food, soak water, anchor plants
• Taproots = beets, turnips, carrots – store large quantities of food
• Grate the carrot to squeeze out the water. Grating breaks the cells
walls and water is released.
2. Stems
• Transport water and minerals from roots to leaves, and food from
leaves to roots and other areas of the plant
• The trunk of a tree is the stem
• The stems of saguaro cacti can store enough water for two years
• Differences in moisture between summer and spring cause a growth ring
to form -study of rings =dendrochronolgy
• Celery, asparagus, rhubarb
• Potatoes are underground stems (tubers)
3. Bark
• Protective covering of a woody stem
• Yew tree bark contains taxol, a treatment for ovarian cancer
• Aspirin used to be made from tree bark
• cinnamon
4. Leaves
• Produce food for the plant
• Stomates: openings that let water in and out
• Chloroplasts – contain chlorophyll which is necessary for
photosynthesis
• Lettuce, parsley, spinach, cilantro, basil, mint
• Rub a plant on an index card and you can see chlorophyll (grass
stains) as you are breaking apart the cells
5. Flowers
• Reproductive function: brocolli, cauliflower
• Do plants always need flowers to reproduce? No
i. cuttings,
ii. rhizomes (horizontal roots in the ground e.g…aspen
iii. runners = strawberry plants
iv. bulbs =short underground stem = onions, garlic
v. cones: pine trees
vi. spores: ferns
6. Fruits
• Enlarged ovary – provides food and protection for seeds
• Provides food for wildlife
• Tomatoes, apples, cucumbers, oranges, grapefruit
7. Seeds
• Embryo – the tiny baby plant
• Sunflower, pumpkin, almond, pecan, walnut
8. Whole plants
• Sprouts =roots, stems and leaves
A plant must protect itself – so some have defenses (bark), spines. Although
these do not always work so some have chemicals – which we call spices: dill,
mustard, pepper
Salad dressing: honey mustard,