PlantsMonocots vs Dicots

SeedMonocots have one thin leaf inside the seed coat and it DOES NOT encompass the endosperm

Dicots have TWO seed leaves that surround the endosperm and the seeds are usually round and flat

Germination Germination produces a

single, long and narrow leaf in monocots. It is similar to the shape of the adult leaf. Some may be small and rounded, but there will still only be one

Dicots produce two fat seed leaves - fatter than the adult leaves because they contain the nutrition for the new plant

Stems and Roots Short and stringy roots

with Bulbs (formations from the stem) are present. The stems are fleshy and they do NOT get thicker from one year to the next. Vascular bundles are spread randomly in the stem

The root is often a long taproot with smaller (new) roots growing out of it. The stem is tough and grows wider with successive years and the vascular bundles are in a ring

Leaves Monocots have long and

narrow leaves with parallel veins that run up and down the leaf, or they are parallel from the central vein

Dicots have a variety of leaf shape and veination net-like from the central midrib

Flowers the organs, (parts) of the

flower are in threes. There are usually the same number of stamens as petals

The flowers have parts that are in fours or fives and the calyx is usually green

Seedpods The seedpods of

monocots have three parts and there are large fleshy seeds inside.

Seedpods are variable in dicots with a greater number of seeds present than in a monocot

Stem Tissues

Tissues Vascular - tissues which are conducting, allowing the

flow of fluids and nutrients Types are Xylem (water, minerals) and Phloem

(sugars) - they are arranged in bundles with Cambium in between which will produce new cells of both allowing for the plant to thicken. They transport the fluids and nutrients from the root to the leaf

Meristem is undifferentiated cells which give rise to various organs - vascular tissue, flowers, leaves. They are filled with cytoplasm and few organelles

In woody plants the vascular bundles are protected by cork cambium between the phloem - the outer cortex breaks through the epidermis - bark!

Leaf Tissue

Leaf Tissues and functions the photosynthetic organs the upper epidermis is a protective single layer of

cells covered in a waxy cuticle to prevent water loss from the upper surface that is exposed to sunlight and heat

The mesophyll is in the mid-section and consists of two types of tissue - Pallisade parenchyma and spongy parenchyma

Pallisade tightly packed columnar cells with lots of chloroplasts and is the main photosynthetic tissue

spongy parenchyma are irregularly shaped and allow the gases to circulate as they enter from the stomata and guard cells on the underside of the leaf

Water and minerals are drawn up from the roots through the xylem (dead structure) - vascular tissues, and transpiration occurs through the leaf to the atmosphere while phloem (living cells) transports the sugars back down to all parts of the plant

Modifications Bulbs - modified leaf bases food storage scaly leaf bases that encircle the

storage center of the bulb modified stem found at the base of the

root from which the roots grow new stems and leaves arise from the

upper side of the base

Stem tubers - modified stems that have food (nutrients) storage in large swollen structures on the stem extensions in the ground

Allows for survival of harsh conditions - winter Used for asexual reproduction as new plants grow

from these stem tubers

Storage roots like carrots, are modified roots that store food and allow the plant to survive adverse conditions

Tendrils are modified leaves that are very thin and they extend out and wrap around a solid structure allowing the plants to grow upwards. Grape vines, peas and my favorite flower the sweet pea all have tendrils

Meristem

Meristem - Totipotent cells These cells have not yet differentiated

into specific functions and are found in several places in the plant

They allow for the continuous growth of plants and the formation of new organs like roots, branches and leaves

Apical Meristems found at the tips of roots

and shoots to allow growth of roots in length and stems taller and form leaves and flowers

Important to increase anchorage of the plant and get nutrients plus increase photosynthesis - closer to the sun and more leaves

apical meristems increase is called primary growth

Lateral Meristems this is called secondary

growth it results in the

thickening of the plant, increasing its diameter

it results from cell division in the lateral meristems

also produces extra xylem and phloem

gives the plant stability so it can grow taller

Homework http://www.phschool.com/science/biolog

y_place/biocoach/plants/intro.html

Complete the activities up and including #6. Print or save your answers to the quiz

Tropisms