Plant parts are what we will see in this article. If we start from the sometimes difficult to understand idea that life began on Earth millions of years ago, the organisms that gradually evolved and became roughly in plants or animals of different species. And it is necessary to know the parts of plants, which we will talk about today, because their importance for our planet is vital.
Evolution is the key to the biodiversity generated over millions of years, where each plant species has adapted to the conditions of its habitat. This means that today there are so many types of plants because they have adapted to all ecosystems of life on the planet. As a good horticulturist, it is important to know everything about plants in order to understand them.
Plants, once the seed has germinated, stay in that place throughout their life. Despite this, they are the only beings capable of transforming energy from the sun into food, in a process known as photosynthesis. And in addition, they absorb carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen. Let’s learn about the parts of plants and their functions.
Contents
Parts of a plant: root
Roots have several functions, but one of the most important is to keep plants attached to the ground. In the soil there are many nutrients and minerals which dissolve when it rains and the roots are able to absorb them through the root hairs to nourish the plant.
plant hat
The cap is the “tip” of the root that finds its way through the earth. It is protected by a sort of “shield” so that it can pierce the ground without hurting itself.
Applied to the orchard, this information tells us a lot:
- It must first be poured and then watered so that the root hairs can absorb the nutrients well.
- The soil must be well aerated with organic matter so that the hat can find its way without problems.
- Soil pH is important because if it is very acidic, some plants will not be able to take up nutrients and iron chlorosis will occur.
- Fungi can affect the crown, which would destabilize the whole plant. This is why it is necessary to avoid waterlogging or dampness of the bottom of the stem. If infected, the roots will not be able to sustain the plant. For example, if we have a drip irrigation system, it would be better not to be too close to the trunk or stem of the plant. It is always possible, in case of fungi, to use natural fungicides to treat our plants.
- The curling that occurs in the pots, which would cause the cap to forage for food in circles, so it is important to break the roots so that they go in other directions. Consider the size of the pot for the urban garden in this case.
What are the parts of plants that form the stem
The water with its dissolved minerals and nutrients that the root captures rises up the stem, this is called raw sap. It travels from roots to leaves through passages called wood vessels. When it reaches the leaves, it mixes with the carbon dioxide that the leaves have taken from the air and becomes an elaborate sap, that is, what the plant will travel from the leaves to the roots, giving it the nourishment necessary for its growth.
The parts of the plant inside the stem are several, and it is composed of the neckthat the part which joins the roots, the knots where the leaves and other branches come from, internodes are the areas between one node and the next, the axillary buds which give rise to new shoots and terminal yellow which is what gives the main growth to the plant.
Applied to the orchard we can obtain that:
- The apical bud should not be broken or the growth of the plant will be stopped, a clear example is the tomato. Unless you want the plant to widen and stop growing, as in the case of papaya or any other fruit tree.
- The axillary buds are the famous “hijos, hijuelos or suckers” which, on many occasions, must be removed so that they do not consume plant nutrients.
- The axillary buds can be cut off and put in water to give rise to a new plant.
- Cuttings are made from the main parts of plants, so always allow 2-3 nodes for new leaves and branches to come out.
- Any injury to the stem can cause the plant to weaken or die, as food cannot flow through it well.
Parts of the plant: Leaves
The part of the plant that functions as a food factory for itself are the leaves, a process that occurs through the photosynthesis. I remind you that this was the process by which the plant captures CO2 (carbon dioxide) from the air and expels O2 (oxygen) during the day. But at night the reverse process occurs, the leaves breathe because they cannot catch light, they would take in O2 and expel CO2. They will wonder So why do we say that trees are the lungs of the planet if they also emit CO2?
Well the answer is that they don’t expel as much carbon dioxide at night as the oxygen they produce during the day, they will always expel more oxygen, which is why plants are essential for l ‘ecosystem.
Another function of this part of the plant, the leaves, is to transpire. This consists of expelling excess water through the stomata, which are the pores of plants. They can come in many shapes and sizes and can even change color at any time of the year.
The leaves can be perennial, which means they fall when new leaves appear throughout the year, or deciduous, which are those that fall at a certain time of the year. Like those of the chestnut trees in autumn.
The parts of the leaves are: The limbo or blade which is the whole leaf and is composed of the do (the top) and the underneath (the bottom), the petiole which is the part that connects the leaf with the stem and the nerves which are the structures through which the sap flows.
Applied to the orchard we can obtain that:
- Leaves are the main indicators of plant diseases since, depending on their color or damage, they can be a fungus, a virus or a pest.
- The size of the leaves is good, but not excessive, because we would prevent the supply of nutrients to the plant.
- Deciduous leaves can be used to make mulch or compost.
- Some plants can be propagated by taking leaf cuttings, such as succulents.
- The pests are mainly found on the underside of the leaves, except for the leaf miner, which is located between the upper and lower sides, which prevents the plant from carrying out photosynthesis.
- The leaves of the cacti are the thorns, but they do not carry out photosynthesis there, but have modified them to lose as little water as possible. Photosynthesis takes place in the stem, which has been modified to adapt to water-scarce climates.
What parts of a plant make up flowers?
Flowers are structures that allow the plant to reproduce year after year. They have several parts that we will try to explain.
- Petals: They are usually brightly colored and their function is to attract pollinators.
- Sepals: It is a kind of cover that the flower has when it is closed to protect it.
- The petals form the corolla of the flower and the sepals the calyx.
- Inside the corolla are the reproductive organs which, depending on the flower, can be hermaphroditic, male or female. Here is an article that explains it better.
- Stamen: It is the male apparatus of the flower and it is made up of 2 parts, the filament and the anther (where the pollen is).
- Pistil: It is the female apparatus of the flower and it is composed of 3 parts, the stigma, the style and the ovary (where the pollen arrives and fertilizes the flower).
In the garden:
- The flowers if not pollinated will drop. That’s why plants that attract pollinators are important, and that’s why we need to plant many remarkable plants.
- Some flowers can be edible like those of the nasturtium.
- An orchard with a variety of floral species will be a haven for pollinators.
- During the flowering season, it is important that they do not lack water or nutrients because all the energy is used by the plant to produce flowers.
- In some plants, hand pollination is necessary by brushing as in pitaya or by vibration as in autogamous tomato.
What parts make up the fruit?
A part of the plant that is vital for its reproduction are the fruits. And it is that the fertilized ovary that gives rise to the fruit and the pulp has several functions. Protect the seeds during growth, help spread them once they are ready, and attract animals so that by ingesting the seeds they can spread further. It is made up of the seed, which is the hard part, and the pericarp, which is the soft part.
What parts make up the seed?
It is essential for the survival of the species, which is why each plant has managed to disperse its seeds in its own way.
- The coconut tree usually grows on the beaches in the tropical zone, so the coconuts are usually scattered floating in the water, they can travel thousands of miles.
- Some seeds can be dispersed by the wind like dandelions.
- Other trees such as those found in mangroves, whose seeds fall directly into the water and being designed in the shape of a “spear”, they stick directly to the bottom.
- The Drago throws orange seeds which the birds consume and when they travel long distances they spread them in many places.
Some seeds can last for years, others for less. This is why if you have seeds for your garden, it is better to renew them from time to time, to prevent them from losing their germination power.
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