plants

•Parts of a plant•How flowering plants make food•How flowering plants reproduce

Kevin WhittonEDER 679.25October 3, 2011

Flowering plants have four main parts:

Flowers

Leaves

Stems

Roots

Flower

Leaf or Leaves

Stem

Roots

Roots grow under the ground.

Roots help the plant get water and nutrients from the soil.

Nutrients are like food for the plant.

Stems carry the water and nutrients from the roots to the rest of the plants.

Stems also help to hold up the leaves and flowers.

Stem

Leaves help the plant make food from the sun’s light.

This is called photosynthesis (fo – to – SIN– the- sis)

A chemical called chlorophyll helps leaves collect sunlight. It also makes the leaves look green.

Plants make their own food through photosynthesis.

This food is a kind of sugar.

Plants need three things for photosynthesis:

Carbon dioxide is a gas in the air. The leaves collect it.

Carbon dioxide mixes with water and sunlight to make a kind of sugar for the plant.

The plant uses the sugar to build new leaves, flowers, stems, and roots.

During Photosynthesis, plants give off oxygen into the air. This helps people to breathe.

Flowers make fruits and seeds so the plant can reproduce.

First, flowers make pollen. Pollen is a powder in the centre of the flower.

Plants can not move, so flowers help to attract insects (like bees) and animals (like birds) to carry pollen from one flower to another.

The bright colours of the petals, or the smell of the flower help them do this.

Petals

Pollen

To make a seed, pollen must move from the anther to the stigma. It can happen on the same plant, or on different plants. This is called pollination.

The anther connects to the ovule, where the pollen needs to go. This is called fertilization.

After the pollen gets to the ovule, the plant can make a seed.

Seeds may be inside fruits, such as apples or berries.

The seeds can be spread by the wind, or by animals who eat the fruits and seeds.

Seeds

Fruit

Seeds can sprout into new plants if there is enough water, nutrients, and sunlight.

They will eventually grow new roots, stems, leaves, and their own flowers.

The new plants will someday grow more seeds to spread.

HINT: There is a glossary of new words at the end of the slide show.

Can you name each part:

Roots

Flower

Stem

Leaves

Flower

Leaves

Stem

Roots

What two things do the roots help the plant to get?

Water

Nutrients – a sort of food for the plant.

What three things do plants use during photosynthesis to make their own food?

Where does the pollen have to go so that fertilization happens and the plant can make a seed?

From the anther to the stigma, and then to the ovule.

What are two ways that seeds can be spread?

By the wind

By birds or animals who eat them or drop them far away.

If you are curious about plants, you can read more here:

http://www.biology4kids.com/files/plants_main.html

http://herbarium.desu.edu/pfk/index.html

Anther – the “male” part of the plant where pollen is made

Carbon Dioxide – a gas in the air. Humans breathe it out. Plants use it for photosynthesis.

Chlorophyll – a green chemical in leaves that helps plants use sunlight during photosynthesis

Fertilization – when the pollen reaches the ovule of a flower. It can then make a seed or fruit.

Fruit – are made by the plant to hold the seeds.

Nutrients – act as food for the plant. Roots collect them from the soil.

Ovule – the part of the plant where pollen is taken before a seed is made.

Oxygen – a gas in the air. Humans breathe it in. Plants release it during photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis – when plants use sun, water, and carbon dioxide to make sugar for food.

Pollen – a powder made in flowers. It is part of making seeds and plant reproduction.

Reproduce – to make more.

Seed – can grow into new plants.

Stigma – the part of the flower that takes pollen to the ovule for fertilization.

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