9

Plants–Form and Function

Expected Learning Outcomes

Knowledge to be gained: •Types of plants •Parts of a owering plant and their functions
•Pollination and fertilisation
Skill to be developed: •Identi cation of various parts of a owering plant.
Attitude to be inculcated: •Students will be able to value the importance of each part of a plant.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLANTS type of stem.

Plants are a major component of our KINDS OF PLANTS
ecosystem. ey are found everywhere and Based on their size and type of stem, plants
in every type of climate. ey adapt to the can be grouped into four categories
surroundings where they are found. eir u Trees u Herbs
bodies are modi ed according to the
u Shrubs u Climbers and creepers
resources available to them. Some plants are
very small, others are big. Trees
Trees are big plants with thick and hard
Go on a nature walk and look around.
stem, which is called trunk. eir stems
Observe closely the kinds of plants and study
branch out and roots go deep into the soil.
their differences.
For example: guava tree, peepal tree and
Let us learn how plants are classi ed into
banyan tree. Trees like coconut and date
different groups according to their size and
palm do not have branches.
110 Exploring Science-6
Shrubs Based on life span, plants can be classi ed
Shrubs are plants with hard stems that are into: Annual, Biennial and perennial plants.
not very thick. ey have branches near the Annual plants survive only for one year or
surface of the soil and do not grow as tall as one season. Herbs are generally annual
trees. For example: Rose and bougainvillea. plants. Examples of annual plants are
Herbs mustard, wheat, gram, maize, paddy, green
Herbs are plants with so, green stems. gram (moong), tomato, brinjal, balsam,
ey are generally short in height. For sweet pea, petunia, etc.
example: Coriander, rosemary and thyme. Biennial plants complete their life cycle in
Creepers and Climbers two years. During the rst year, they develop
only vegetable parts; root, stem and leaves
ese are weak-stemmed plants and hence
are called vegetative parts of a plant. Flowers
cannot grow erect without support.
and fruits develop only in the second year.
Creepers spread horizontally along the soil.
Radish, turnip, dahlia, etc., are some biennial
For example, watermelon, pumpkin and
bitter gourd are creepers. plants.

Climbers take support of an object or a tree for Perennial plants are shrubs and trees. ey
climbing. Climbers grow vertically. ey live for more than two years. Mango, guava,
simply twine in a spiral way around the support neem, peepal, jamun, babool, ber, jasmine,
available to them. For example: Money plants, lemon, henna, etc., are some perennial
peas and grapevines are climbers. plants.
Trees Shrubs Herbs Creepers & Climbers

Very high; Generally Shorter than trees; Short plants; Long plants; Length more
Size
more than 2 mtr Height between 1-2 mtr Height less than 1 mtr than 1 mtr

Hard thick trunk with Hard stem, but not very

Type of stem Green so stems Weak, green so stems
deep roots thick

Examples Coconut, mango, etc. Rose, lemon, etc. Rosemary, mint, etc. Pumpkin, grapevines, etc.

Tree Shrubs Herbs Climbers

Fig.1 Types of plants
Plants-Form and Function 111
Checkpoint-1
Write True or False
1. Rose is a non- owering plant. ____________
2. Trees are large and tall plants with hard and woody stems. ____________
3. Climbers have strong stems. ____________
4. Biennial plants complete their life cycle in ve years. ____________
5. Annual plants survive only for one year. ____________

PARTS OF A FLOWERING PLANT u ey grow away from sunlight.

All owering plants have two main systems, u ey have many lateral branches, called
namely root system and shoot system. secondary and tertiary roots.
Types of Roots
Flower
Roots (root systems) are of two types,
Leaf
namely, taproot and brous root.
Shoot system
u Taproot: In this root system, the primary
Lateral bud root is thick and long. It grows vertically
downwards in the soil. It is also called the
Stem true root.
Root A taproot system has a main root (true
Root system
root) going vertically down, from
which several branches arise (lateral
Fig.2 Parts of a owering plant roots). e branches that arise from the
ROOT SYSTEM main root are called lateral roots.
e root system is the underground, non- Taproot is found in dicot plants. For
green part of a plant. It consists of a primary example, mustard, gram, bean, pea,
root and its branches. carrot, radish, etc.
Characteristics of Roots
u Roots are non-green underground parts
of a plant.
u ey develop from the radicle of the seed
(the body root present in a seed).
Taproot Fibrous root
u ey grow towards soil and water.
Fig.3 Two types of roots
112 Exploring Science-6
u Fibrous root: In this root system, the water and minerals from the soil. e
primary root is short-lived. It is replaced absorbed water and minerals move
by a cluster of brous roots. All the upwards to other parts of the plants.
branches arise from the base of the Water and minerals are needed by
stem and spread out into the soil. plants for their growth and preparation
Fibrous roots are found in monocot of food.
plants, for example: maize, wheat, rice, (iii) Holding soil together: Roots bind the
barley, grasses, etc. soil particles together and prevent the
Let us perform an activity to study taproots soil from getting eroded.
and brous roots. Roots of some plants have very specialised
functions. ey are as follows:
Activity-1
u Mechanical Support: In some plants like
Aim: To study taproot and brous root. banyan, the branches give out roots
Procedure: Request your school gardener to which grow downwards towards the soil.
uproot a grass plant and a balsam or mustard ey help in supporting the heavy
plant. Wash the soil from the roots carefully.
branches. ese are called prop roots.
Put the plants into a shallow tray lled with
water to spread the lateral roots. Note down u Respiration: Some plants that grow in
the differences between the roots of grass and marshy areas have secondary roots
balsam or mustard. coming out of the soil. ese plant roots
Observation: Roots of grass are thin, thread- are highly porous and help in respiration.
like, many in number and in cluster, while u Storage of food: In some plants, like
balsam or mustard plant has one thick root
carrot, turnip, beetroot, etc., the roots are
with many side branches.
swollen. is is due to the food that is
Conclusion: Grasses have brous roots, while
balsam or mustard has taproot.
stored in them.
Let us perform an activity to show that roots
Functions of Roots
absorb water.
e normal functions of the roots in all
plants are as follows: Activity-2
(i) Support: e root is the main part of
Aim: To show that roots absorb water.
the plant. Without a root, a plant can
Materials required: A radish, a glass, water,
never grow and stand up. Roots anchor
red colour and a knife.
the plant to the soil.
Procedure: Take a radish. Place it in a glass
(ii) Absorption of minerals and water: containing red-coloured water. Leave the set-
Root hairs present in the root absorb
Plants-Form and Function 113
up for a day. Next day, take the radish out and
cut it lengthwise.
Observation: e red colour has spread
throughout the radish and red-coloured tubes
appear extending all along the length of the B
radish. A
Conclusion:
e red colour
shows the Fig.5 Washing away of soil
passage of
water through Modi cations of the Root
the radish. So, In some plants, roots are specialised to carry
it can be out some other functions besides anchorage
concluded that and absorption. Some of the modi cations
roots absorb water. Fig.4 Red colour spread of the root are as follows:
inside the radish
u Storage of food: e tap roots of radish,
Let us perform an activity to show that roots
turnip, beetroot and carrot store food. So,
bind soil particles together.
they are swollen and eshy. Such roots are
edible in nature. e food made in green
Activity-3
leaves is sent downwards and stored in
Aim: To show that roots bind soil particles the roots of such plants.
together.
u Support: Some roots provide support to
Materials Required: Two baskets, a plastic
the plant. e supporting roots are of two
bag, garden soil, bean seeds and water.
types, namely stilt roots and prop roots
Procedure: Take two baskets and spread a
(Fig.6).
plastic bag in them. Now, ll the baskets with
garden soil. Sow some seeds of bean in Basket u Stilt roots: In bamboo, maize and sugar
A and leave Basket B bare. Water them daily cane, adventitious roots arise from the
for one week till the seeds germinate and the lower nodes and grow downwards. ese
seedlings grow into small plants. Now, place are called stilt roots . ey provide
both the baskets inclined under the taps. Let additional support to the plant.
the water fall over them with the same force.
Observe what happens. u Prop roots: In Banyan and rubber trees,
Observation: Very little soil is washed away
additional roots grow downwards from
from Basket A, while much soil is washed their horizontal branches. ese rope-
away from Basket B (Fig.5). like roots are called prop roots. ey
Conclusion: e results indicate that roots penetrate the soil and act as pillars to
bind the soil particles together. support the heavy branches.
114 Exploring Science-6
Turnip Carrot

Food storing roots Stilt root Prop roots

Fig.6 Modi cations of the root
Checkpoint-2
Fill in the blanks:
1. ______________ root is also called the true root.
2. ______________ prevents soil erosion.
3. ______________ system is the underground, non-green part of a plant.
4. Stilt roots grow ______________.
5. e plants of bamboo, maize and sugar have ______________ roots.

SHOOT SYSTEM from the soil and water.

e shoot system is the aerial part of a u It has nodes and inter-nodes.
plant. It includes the stem, as well as the u e stem bears leaves, branches, buds,
branches, leaves, owers and fruits. It owers and fruits.
develops from the plumule of the seed.
u e stem connects the root system with
Plumule is the mother shoot present inside a
the rest of the plant.
seed.
Functions of the Stems
STEM
Stem is the part of the plant which rises u e stem bears aerial parts of the plants.
vertically up from the ground and u It holds the plant upright so that the
connects all other parts of the plant to the leaves get the maximum sunlight.
root system. e stem is the main axis of the u It acts as a connecting link by transporting
shoot system. It is green in herbaceous water and minerals from the roots to the
plants, but woody and hard in shrubs and other parts of the plant, and food from the
trees. e stem of the tree is called the trunk. leaves to all parts of the plant.
It is covered with bark. u e stem holds leaves in such a way that
Characteristics of a Stem they are exposed to plenty of sunlight for
u e stem grows towards light and away preparing food by photosynthesis.

Plants-Form and Function 115

 Modi cations of Stem
Activity-4
In certain plants, the stem is modi ed to
Aim: To show that water is transported carry out special functions besides support
through the stem.
and transportation. ese functions are as
Materials required: A glass tumbler, water, follows:
red ink and a twig with a white ower.
u Manufacture of food: e green stem of
Procedure: Take a glass tumbler and ll
one-third of it with water. Add a few drops of
annual plants synthesises food by
red ink to it and stir photosynthesis. In cacti, the stem
well. Now, cut a twig becomes green leaf-like to make food.
from a plant having a u Storage of food: In potato, ginger,
white ower (like turmeric, onion, etc., the stem grows
petunia or balsam)
underground and stores food. is type
obliquely, and put it in
of stem remains underground and gives
the glass. Leave the
rise to aerial shoots in the next season.
s e t - up ove r n i g ht .
Observe the plant the is is called perennation.
Fig.7
next morning. Balsam stem In potatoes, the modi ed stem is called a
Observation: e petals of the ower and tuber (Fig.8). It has a number of buds
veins of the leaves have become red. called eyes. Each bud can grow into an
Conclusion: is shows that red-coloured aerial shoot.
water has travelled up through the stem into In ginger, the underground stem swells
leaves and owers. e thin red-coloured
up in an irregular form and is called a
lines are xylem vessels through which water
rhizome. It has nodes, inter-nodes, buds
travels from roots to different parts of the
shoot. and scaly leaves (small modi ed leaves).

Ginger

Potato

Stem reduced
to a disc

Germinating eye bud

Yam (Jimikand) Onion

Fig.8 Potato tuber Fig.9 Stems modi ed to store food

116 Exploring Science-6
 Margin

Midrib
(midvein)
Veins

Petiole

Fig.10 Stem tendril Fig.11 Stem thorns Fig.12 Structure of a leaf

In onion, garlic, lily, etc., the leaves store at and expanded part of the leaf.
food and become eshy. ey overlap u Petiole: It is the leaf stalk. It connects the
each other and are attached to a disc. is leaf blade with the leaf base. Leaves with a
disc is the reduced stem. Such modi ed petiole are called stalked leaves, while
stems are called bulbs. leaves without a petiole are called sessile
u Support: In some plants like grapevine leaves.
and passion ower, the stem is weak and u Midrib and veins: e midrib forms the
some of its branches are modi ed into middle axis of the leaf blade. It is the
thread-like structures called tendrils. extension of the petiole. e lateral
ey are called stem tendrils. Tendrils branches arising from the midrib are
coil around objects to give support to the called veins. e veins branch into ne
plant (Fig.10). veinlets. e network formed by the
u Protection: In rose, lemon, bougainvillea, veins and veinlets in the lamina is called
etc., the stem bears thorns (Fig.11). ese leaf venation.
thorns protect the plant from grazing u Stomata: Leaves bear tiny pores called
animals. stomata. ese can be seen only under a
LEAVES—THE FOOD FACTORIES microscope. Plants breathe through the
OF THE PLANT stomata present on the surface of a leaf.
e leaves are green and attened structures Functions of a Leaf
that arise from the nodes of the stem and Leaves have three main functions:
branches.
u ey make food for the plant by
Structure of a Leaf photosynthesis.
A typical leaf consists of the following parts: u ey get rid of excess water from the plant
u Leaf base: A leaf is attached to the stem through transpiration. Transpiration is
with its leaf base. the process in which water evaporates from
u Lamina or leaf blade: is is the green, the leaves of the plants.
Plants-Form and Function 117
u ey carry out the process of respiration food, they are called the food factories or
in plants. kitchens of the plant.
Photosynthesis
e process of making food by green
plants is called Photosynthesis. In the
presence of sunlight and chlorophyll green
leaves take the help of water, minerals and Sunlight
carbon dioxide to prepare their food. is
Oxygen
plant food is a kind of sugar called glucose.
During food making, the leaves give off
oxygen. Photosynthesis may be written as:
Starch Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide Sunlight (glucose)
Glucose + Oxygen
+
Water Chlorophyll (food)

e glucose produced in the process of

photosynthesis is stored in the leaf in the Water
form of starch. Since green leaves prepare
Fig.13 Photosynthesis
Activity-5
Aim: To study the presence of starch in leaves.
Materials required: A fresh green leaf, a water bath, water, alcohol, and iodine.
Procedure: Take a fresh green leaf from any plant
which was kept in the presence of sunlight for quite Water bath

some time. Boil the leaf in water for at least ve Boiling water
Ethanol
minutes. en, boil the leaf in alcohol (ethanol), Leaf
keeping it in a water bath for some time, to remove Asbestos Boiling tube
gauze
the green colour so that the effect of other colours
is clearly visible. Now, wash the leaf in cold water. Tripod
Add a few drops of iodine to it. What do you stand

observe?
Burner
Observation and Conclusion: e leaf turns blue-
black, indicating the presence of starch. e
glucose formed in the leaves by photosynthesis is Fig.14 Testing a leaf for starch
converted into starch.
Note: Do this activity only in the presence of your teacher.

118 Exploring Science-6

Modi cations of Leaves around some objects and provide support
In some plants, the leaf or part of a leaf is to the weak stem to climb up. For
modi ed to perform some special functions. example, the leaves of sweet peas.
ese modi cations are as follows: u Leaf spines: In prickly poppy, the leaf
u Leaf tendrils: In creepers, the leaves or margins bear spines to protect the plant
lea ets are modi ed into spring-like from grazing animals. In cacti, the leaves
structures called leaf tendrils. ey coil are modi ed into spines to avoid loss of
water by transpiration.
Checkpoint-3
Answer the following questions:
1. Which is the main axis of the shoot system?
2. What is perennation?
3. What is a tuber?
4. What are tendrils?

FLOWER u Petals: Petals are brightly coloured and

Flower is the most attractive part of owering the most attractive part of a ower. ey
plants. It is the reproductive part of the plant may be sweet-scented. ey attract
and helps in sexual reproduction. Flowers insects for pollination.
contain the reproductive organs of the u Stamens: ese are the male
plant. reproductive organs of a ower. Each
Structure of a Flower stamen has two parts, namely—a long
A typical ower has the following parts: and narrow lament and a bilobed sac-
like structure called anther.
u Pedicel: e stalk of the ower is called
the pedicel. A ower is attached to the e laments are attached to the
plant with its pedicel. thalamus and the anthers have pollen
grains. A pollen grain contains male
u alamus: It is the upper swollen end of
g ame te s ( c el ls t hat t a ke p ar t i n
the pedicel. All the oral parts are
reproduction).
attached to the thalamus.
u Carpels or pistils: is is the female
u Sepals: Sepals are green leaf-like
reproductive part. Each carpel has three
structures. In a bud, they enclose and
parts:
protect the inner whorls of the ower.
ey are usually ve in number. Ÿ e swollen basal part of the carpel is

Plants-Form and Function 119

 called the ovary. It contains ovules. Observation:
An ovule contains the female gamete. Colour : Yellow
Ÿ e long, thread-like middle part is Pedicel : Present
called style. Sepals : 4 (green)
Ÿ e terminal expanded part of the Petals : 4 (yellow)
style is called stigma. It is sticky and Stamens : 6
helps to trap the pollen grains during Pistil : 1
pollination.
Petal Let us perform an activity to study the
structure of a stamen.
Stigma
Anther
Style
Pistil Activity-7
(Carpel) Stamen

Ovary Aim: To study the structure of a stamen.

Filament
Materials required: Different types of owers.
alamus Procedure: Collect different types of owers.
Sepal Pedicel (stalk)
Remove sepals and petals. Study the shape
Fig.15 Parts of a ower
and size of the stamens. Take a stamen and
Let us perform an activity to study different cut the anther horizontally from the middle.
parts of a ower. Tap the half-cut anther on a glass slide.

Activity-6 Pollen grains

Anther Pollen
Aim: To study different parts of a ower. sacs

Materials required: A mustard ower,

forceps, etc.
Line of dehiscence
Procedure: Take a mustard ower and
observe all its parts. Separate its parts with
the help of a pair of forceps. Count its various
parts. Draw and label different parts of the Filament
(stalk)
ower.
Fig.17 Stamen cut widthwise
Petal
Observation: You can see some ne particles
Stamens on the slide.
Pistil
Conclusion: ese are pollen grains. ey
Sepal
contain the male gametes.

Pedicel Let us perform an activity to study the

Fig.16 Parts of a mustard ower structure of an ovary.
120 Exploring Science-6
 Pollination and Fertilisation
Activity-8 Pollination and fertilisation are necessary
Aim: To study the structure of an ovary. for a ower to become a fruit. e male
Materials required: Two complete owers of gamete of a ower (pollen grains) needs to
the same type. combine with the female gamete (ovary) of
Procedure: Take complete owers and the same ower or the ower of another
remove their sepals, petals and stamens. plant of a similar type, for the ower to
Place one of the pistils on a slide and cut the become a fruit. e pollen grains are
ovary longitudinally (length-wise), as shown transported to the female gametes for this
in the gure. Draw its labelled diagram. process to take place.
Take another ovary and give a transverse e pollen grains are transferred through
(width-wise) cut. Use a hand lens to study the blowing winds, owing water or insects. e
detailed structure of the ovary, i.e., the
transfer of the pollen grains from the
number and attachment of ovules, and the
anther to the stigma is called pollination. It
number of chambers in the ovary. Draw its
can take place in two ways (Fig.19). ese
labelled diagram.
ways are as follows:
When the pollen grains from the anther of a
Stigma Placenta ower are transferred to the stigma of the
Ovules
Style same ower or the stigma of another
ower on the same plant, it is called self-
Ovule pollination.
Ovary
wall When the pollen grains from the anther of
Chamber the ower of one plant are transferred to the
in ovary
stigma of the ower of another plant of a
Ovary cut Ovary cut
similar type, through different agents, such
length-wise width-wise as wind, water, insects, etc., it is called cross-
pollination.
Fig.18 Structure of ovary
Aer pollination, the male gamete from the
Observation and Conclusion: Ovules are pollen grains travels down to the ovary and
round in structure and are attached to a tissue
fuses with the female gamete, called egg,
called placenta. ey contain female gamete.
present in the ovary. e fusion of the male
e female gamete present in the ovary is
called the egg. gamete with the female gamete is called
fertilisation.

Plants-Form and Function 121

 Transfer of pollens Pollen 1. Pollen sticks to the bee
grains
Stigma Stigma 3. Pollen sticks to the pistil
Anther

2. Bee travels
to another plant
of the same type.

Self-pollination Cross-pollination Cross-pollination with the help of a bee

Fig.19 Types of pollination

Once the egg is fertilised, the petals, sepals grow into new plants.
and stamen fall off. e ovary grows into a u Flowering plants beautify their
fruit and the ovule changes into a seed. surroundings.
Functions of a Flower u e nectar of owers is collected by
honeybees to prepare honey.
e important functions and uses of a ower
u Flowers emit sweet and attractive smell.
are as follows:
Perfumes are prepared from owers.
u Flowers are the reproductive organs of
u Cloves are dried ower buds. ese are
plants. e ovary of a ower develops into
used for avouring food and as a
fruit and its ovules form seeds. e seeds
medicine.
Checkpoint-4
Write True or False
1. Leaves with a petiole are called stalked leaves. _________
2. e network formed by the veins and veinlets in the lamina is called veins. _________
3. e ower is the most attractive part of owering plants. _________
4. Fruits are the reproductive organs of the plant. _________
5. Perfumes are prepared from owers. _________

Keywords
Radicle : The baby root present in a seed.
Plumule : The baby shoot present in a seed.
Node : The point on a stem where a leaf or a branch grows from.
Trunk : The stem of the tree.
Bark : Outermost brown and hard covering of old stem.
Lamina : The at green portion of the leaf.
Venation : Arrangement of veins in a leaf.
Gamete : e reproductive cell of the plant or animal.

122 Exploring Science-6

 Points to Remember
u Herbs are small plants with so and green stems.
u Shrubs are bushy plants with woody stems.
u Trees are tall and large plants with hard and woody stems.
u Based on lifespan, plants are classi ed as—annual, biennial and perennial.
u All plants have two main systems, namely—the root system and the shoot system.
u e root system is the underground, non-green part of a plant.
u Roots are of two types—taproots and brous roots.
u Roots anchor the plant, hold the soil, and absorb minerals and water.
u e shoot system is the aerial part of a plant.
u e stem of the tree is called the trunk.
u Stem connects the root system with the shoot system and transports minerals, water and food.
u Leaves are the lungs and the kitchen of the plants.
u e ower is the reproductive part of the plant.
u e transfer of the pollen grains from the anther to the stigma is called pollination.
u e fusion of the male gamete with the female gamete is called fertilisation.

Exercise
A. Tick (3) the Correct Option
1. Which of the following is not a owering plant?
(a) Rose (b) Algae
(c) Mango (d) Apple
2. Which of the following is a shrub?
(a) Rose (b) Coriander
(c) Peepal (d) Parsleys
3. Annual plants survive for only _____________.
(a) one year (b) two years
(c) ve years (d) ten years
4. Which of the following has taproot?
(a) Mango (b) Wheat
(c) Maize (d) Barley
Plants-Form and Function 123
 5. Which of the following has brous roots?
(a) Radish (b) Carrot
(c) Mustard (d) Grass
B. Fill in the Blanks with Suitable Words
1. Roots absorb _____________ and _____________ from the soil.
2. e _____________ of the plant grows towards light and away from the soil and water.
3. _____________ are small plants with so and green stems.
4. Green leaves are called the _____________of the plant.
5. _____________ is the most attractive part of owering plants.
6. e transfer of the pollen grains from the anther to the stigma is called _____________.
7. e _____________ of a ower develops into fruit.
C. Very Short-Answer-Type Questions
1. Give an example of: (a) a herb (b) a shrub (c) a creeper (d) a climber
2. What are herbs? Give two examples.
3. What are shrubs? Give two examples.
4. What are trees? Give two examples.
5. Herbs are generally annual plants. True or False?
6. True root and lateral root can be found in brous root systems. True or False?
7. What are prop roots?
8. What are stilt roots?
9. Stem is green in shrubs, but woody and hard in herbaceous plants. True or False?
10. Tendrils are modi ed leaves and stems found in creepers and climbers. True or False?
D. Short-Answer-Type Questions
1. What are the main functions of a root system?
2. De ne taproot. Give some examples of plants with taproot.
3. What are the characteristic features of a root system?
4. With the help of a simple experiment show that roots can absorb water.
5. What are the main functions of the stem?
6. What are the functions of the leaves of a plant?
7. What do you mean by cross-pollination?

124 Exploring Science-6

E. Long-Answer-Type Questions
1. Differentiate among trees, shrubs, herbs, creepers and climbers.
2. Explain with a diagram, the two types of root systems.
3. What is the stem? What kind of modi cations are found in the stems of various plants?
4. Describe the structure of a leaf with a labelled diagram.
5. Explain with a diagram the structure of a ower.
6. What is pollination? Explain the two methods through which pollination can occur.

HOTS
1. What would happen if the owers were not colourful and had no pleasant smell?
Note: ere are a few owers which are not colourful and are odourless. ey undergo wind
pollination.
2. Potatoes are grown underground. How do they contain starch when photosynthesis occurs
in the green leaves above the ground?

Activity Zone

Project Work
A. Collect owers of different plants and observe their parts. Compare how different parts of a
ower are similar or different from other owers. Try to nd out the reason for the differences.
Prepare a chart by pasting pictures of these owers along with their different parts.
B. Collect six different types of leaves. Name them and draw their shapes in your notebook. Also,
try to nd the different types of venation present in various leaves.

Lotus leaf Peepal leaf Mango leaf Neem leaf Papaya leaf Banana leaf

Science Excursion

C. Plan a visit to a nursery. Sample the plants with stem tendrils and leaves. Take a photo of these
plants and note their names. Try to gather more information on tendrils found in plants.

Plants-Form and Function 125

 Memory Map

Climber
&
Herb Shrub Creeper Tree Annual Biennial Perennial

based on structure based on life-span

Types of plants

PLANTS

Parts of a plant

Root System Shoot System

types

Taproot Fibrous root

Stem Leaf Flower

function function
Stamen Pistil
Support Bears aerial Transport Photosynthesis Male Female
part of the food, water reproductive reproductive
plant and mineral organ organ
function
Reproduction

e-Resources
Please visit the link given below or scan the QR code for more resources on
this Chapter:
https://www.megamindpublication.com/s-1-science/b-1-exploring-science-6/c-18/plants-form-and-
functions.html

126 Exploring Science-6