Name : Grade : 7 Roll No : 2023-24

Subject : Biology Date : Teacher’s sign

Reading Material 1 - Plants Part 1

Plants grow on mountains, in valleys, in deserts, in fresh and saltwater—almost everywhere on the planet. Plants
come in all shapes and sizes from the smallest seedling to the towering Giant Sequoias. Not only are plants beautiful
to look at, but they also play a vital role in keeping people, animals, and the Earth healthy.

Plants are extremely important to life on earth in the following ways…

1. Plants provide food. In fact, everything we eat comes directly or indirectly from plants. Herbivores (plant-eaters)
and omnivores (animal and plant eaters) depend on plants for survival. Even carnivores (meat-eaters) depend on
plants because they often prey on animals that eat plants.
2. Plants provide medicine.
3. Plants provide shelter.
4. Plants provide the oxygen we need to breathe. When plants carry out photosynthesis, they take in carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen for us to breathe.
5. Plants also provide shelter and habitats for many animals.
6. Our precious soil also needs plants. When plants die they decompose and provide topsoil that is rich in nutrients
and helps seeds to germinate and grow into seedlings.
7. Plants also help to slow erosion because their roots hold soil in place.

Parts of plants and their functions

Now when we know the importance of plants for almost all living organisms found on earth, it is crucial to learn
about

plants. Before starting learning

the anatomy and classification of
plants we must have the
knowledge of basic parts of
plants. Most of the land plants
do possess roots, stems, leaves,
flowers, fruits, and seeds.
Plants can be divided into two
major parts. The plant parts
which are present in the air are
aerial plant parts and collectively
known as the shoot system of
plants. The shoot system includes
stem, flowers and leaves.
The plant parts present under
the soil are known as
underground plant parts which
make the root system of the
plant.
Important features of each plant
part are described as follows:

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 Roots
Roots are important underground parts or plants. They
support plants and are very crucial for supporting life of
plants by absorbing vital nutrients and water from the
ground. As the root system is one of the major systems of
plants, further study of its structure and functions is needed.
Structure of roots
● Primary root: It is the main branch of the root.
● Secondary root: These are the sub-branches of roots
which emerge from the primary root.
● Root hair: Root hairs act like a sponge underground. They
absorb large amounts of nutrients and water by
increasing the surface area, which is sent through the tip
of the plant's root.
● Root cap: The root cap consists of cell layers and covers
the root tip. This tissue executes a number of important
functions to direct root growth, such as reducing friction
against the soil, sensing gravity, and protecting the growing root.

Functions of roots
● Roots anchor the plant in the soil.
● Roots absorb water and mineral salts from the soil.
● Roots may store food.
● Sometimes roots may be used to grow a new plant.
Roots form a passageway for water and dissolved substances from the root into the stem and also for foods from the
stem down into the root.

Types of roots
These are the most common root structure characteristics:
A. Fibrous root
Fibrous root systems consist of many fine hairlike roots that form a
thick mat below the surface. These root systems are very effective
at water and mineral absorption, as well as plant stabilization.
Fibrous rooted plants are very effective at preventing soil erosion
and promoting slope stability because of the formation of fibrous
root systems near the soil surface. Examples include grasses, corn
plants, wheat.
B.Taproot
A root system which contains one large, primary vertical root that spawns many smaller horizontal root structures. By
penetrating deep in the soil, taproots provide stability and store nutrients. Examples include carrots, radishes and
turnips.

Stem
Stem is the aerial part of the plant. Depending on the type of stem, plants can be categorised as herbs, shrubs or
trees.
Functions of stem
● They support the upper part of the plant and act as a transport system for nutrients, water, sugar, and starches.
● Arrange leaves in a way that it gets maximum direct sunlight.
● Photosynthesis can occur in the stem of some plants such as cacti, celery, asparagus, and bananas.
● The stem grows upward from the roots.
● It holds the plant up and helps transport food and water.
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 ● Secondary stems, called petioles, grow from the main stem. These petioles have leaves growing on them.
● Sometimes the stem is modified to provide protection, climbing, storing food and to make new plants of their
kind.
● We eat the stems of plants, like potatoes, celery and asparagus.

Leaves
Leaves are aerial parts of plants. Leaves are found in numerous shapes, arrangements, types of vein arrangements,
edges, the arrangement in the stem and textures.

Functions
● They are the parts of the plant
where photosynthesis usually
occurs. Photosynthesis is the
process by which plants utilise
carbon dioxide in the presence of
light to make sugar and release
oxygen.
● Some plants with weak stems
modify their leaves into thread-like
structures called tendrils to give
support.
● Some desert plants store nutrients
in their leaves.
● Few plants modify their leaves into
needle-like structures known as
spines for defence.
● Leaf helps in the removal of excess
water from the plants into the atmosphere by the process of transpiration. This occurs by the opening of stomata
present in the leaves.

Morphology of a leaf
A leaf is thin, expanded, aerial and generally green plant part. The
green colour of the leaf is the result of the presence of a green
coloured pigment called chlorophyll. Parts of the leaf are described as
follows.
● Leaf Base: This is the part where a leaf attaches to the stem.
● Stipules: Leaf base has two small leaf-like structures called
stipules.
● Petiole: Petiole is the long, thin, stalk that links the leaf blade to
the stem.
● Lamina: Also known as leaf blade. It is the green, flat surface of the leaves. It consists of a small branched vein
and veinlets.
● Midrib: The vein that runs along the middle of the lamina is
called midrib. Midrib divides the surface of the lamina into two.
These veins and veinlets give rigidity to the leaf blade and help in
the transportation of water and other substances.

Types of leaves based on venation…

A. Reticulate venation: In a reticulate venation, the veinlets are
randomly arranged and form a complex network of veinlets. Examples:
Dicotyledonous plants like a rose plant.

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B. Parallel venation: In a parallel venation, the veinlets run parallel to each other.
Examples: In monocotyledons like wheat and rice.
Types of leaves based on arrangement…

A. Simple leaves: In simple leaves, there is only a single leaf blade and incisions, which are so light that they do
not divide the leaf blade.
B. Compound leaves: In compound leaves, the incision is so deep that the leaf blades are divided into leaflets.

Anatomy of a leaf
A leaf is made of many layers that are sandwiched between two layers of tough skin cells (called the epidermis).
A. Cuticle: This is the waxy layer produced by secretion of epidermis. Cuticles help to prevent water loss.

B. Epidermis: The outer leaf layer is known as the epidermis. The epidermis is present in the upper side of the
leaf as well as the lower side of the leaf.
Generally the lower epidermis in plant leaves contains two kidney shaped special cells called guard cells that
regulate gas exchange between the plant and the environment.
Guard cells control the size of pores called stomata (singular stoma) in the epidermis. Opening and closing the
stomata allows plants to release or retain gases including water vapor, oxygen, and carbon dioxide as needed.

C. Mesophyll: The middle mesophyll leaf layer is composed of two types of cells. Hence it is divided into two types
- palisade mesophyll region and spongy mesophyll region.

D. Palisade mesophyll contains cylindrical or columnar cells without spaces between the cells. Most plant
chloroplasts are found in palisade mesophyll.

E. Spongy mesophyll is located below palisade mesophyll and is composed of irregularly shaped cells.

F. Vascular tissue: Leaf veins are composed of vascular tissue. Vascular tissue consists of tube-shaped structures
called xylem and phloem that provide pathways for water and nutrients to flow throughout the leaves and plant.
It is found in the spongy mesophyll.
Exercise - 1 Practice questions for concepts of root, stem and leaves.

1. What are the jobs of the roots?

2. What are the unusual roles of stems?

3. Observe six different types of plants in your surroundings, collect leaves of these plants and stick them on the
foolscaps to make your own collection. Based on the collection, make the table showing name of plant,
arrangement and venation in leaves

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 XYLEM PHLOEM

Xylem is responsible for transporting water and minerals Phloem is responsible for transporting food and organic
from roots to other parts of the plant compounds from leaves to other plant parts.

Movement in the xylem is unidirectional Movement in the phloem is bidirectional

Transport in the xylem is a passive process and does not Transport in the phloem is an active process and requires
require energy energy

Flowers
Function
1. Flowers are the reproductive part of
plants.
2. Production of fruits and seeds.

Parts of flower
Depending on the role of flower parts they
are classified
into two types…
● Essential parts/reproductive parts
● Nonessential parts/vegetative parts
Reproductive/ essential parts of a flower
are discussed
below.

Stamen:
This is the third whorl of a flower which has the male reproductive organ and is also known as Androecium. It
consists of two parts namely: anther and filaments.
The anther is a yellowish, sac-like structure, involved in producing and storing thepollen grains. The filament is a
slender, threadlike object, which functions by supporting the anther.
Pistil:
This is the innermost part and the female reproductive organ of a flower which comprises three parts - stigma,
style and ovary. This is collectively known as the pistil.
Stigma: It is the topmost part or receptive tip in the gynoecium of a flower. Its sticky or velvety surface helps in
catching pollen.
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Style: It is the long tube-like slender stalk that connects stigma and the ovary.
Ovary: It is the ductless reproductive gland that holds a lot of ovules. It is the part of the plant where the seed
formation takes place.

The nonessential parts of a flower consist of the following:

Calyx:
It is the outermost whorl of the flower. This consists of green coloured parts known as sepals, which protects the
flower in the bud stage.
Corolla:
It is the second whorl of a flower. It consists of petals. Petals are generally found in bright colours. Due to its bright
colours and sweet scent, it helps to attract insects for pollination. If the petals are present in multiples of five then
it’s called pentamerous flower, if the petals are in multiples of three then it’s called trimerous flower.
Types of flower
A. Bisexual/ complete flower: The flower has both the female and male reproductive organs.
B. Unisexual/ incomplete flower: The flower which have either male or female
reproductive organs.
Fruit and seed
Embryo will be protected inside of the seed and the ovary will start accumulating
food and will later develop into fruit. Seeds are covered with a protective seed coat
and have one or two cotyledons. Cotyledons are the food for baby plants until it can
make its own food from light and are often the first embryonic leaves of the plants.
Fruits that we eat include apples, oranges, watermelons and tomatoes. Sometimes we
let the seeds dry out and use them for food. Things like corn, peas and beans are examples of seeds that we eat.

Photosynthesis
The most important gases used by plants and animals (biotic components) are oxygen, carbon dioxide and
nitrogen. Carbon has many roles to play in an ecosystem. Carbon plays a very important role in photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is defined as the process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize food (glucose) from
carbon dioxide and water. During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide through their leaves and water
through their roots. Using light energy from the sun, and a special pigment known as chlorophyll, plants are able
to convert the carbon dioxide and water into sugars and oxygen i.e.

The plants are able to make their own food by this process & this is why they are known as autotrophs or
producers. The plants store the food prepared by them in the form of fruits that we usually eat as well as some
amount of it are utilised by the plant itself in order to survive. So, photosynthesis helps the plants to build up its
biomasses as well as provides food to the heterotrophs.

Biomass
Scientists often use the world biomass when discussing the amount of matter or mass in a living thing. The
biomass can be found by weighing the living thing. The term biomass is used to describe the mass of a living
thing when it is alive. By the following word equation, We can understand that the process of Photosynthesis is
responsible for making biomass as well as oxygen in plants.
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 Exercise - 2 Practice questions for concepts of photosynthesis.
1. Write the definition of photosynthesis.
2. What are the factors required for the process of photosynthesis?
3. Write the word equation for photosynthesis.
4. Name a few photoautotrophic organisms.

Introduction to transport in plants

● The plants have low energy needs, as they use relatively slow transport systems.
● Plant transport systems move energy from leaves and raw materials from roots to all their parts.
● The xylem (tissue) moves water and minerals obtained from the soil to all other parts of the plants.
● The phloem (tissue) transports products of photosynthesis from the leaves (where they are synthesized) to
other parts of the plant.

Movement of Water in Plants

● Water moves into the root from the soil and then steady it moves into the root xylem, creating a column of
water, which is progressively pushed upwards.
● Evaporation of water molecules from the cells of a leaf (see the image given below) creates a suction force,
which pulls water from the xylem cells of roots; this process keeps going on.
● The loss of water in the form of vapour from the leaves (i.e. aerial parts) of the plant is known as transpiration.
● Transpiration, likewise, helps in the absorption and upward movement of water and minerals dissolved in it
from roots to the leaves.
● Transpiration also helps in the temperature regulation.

Movement of food in Plants

● The transport of products of photosynthesis is known as translocation, which occurs in the part of the
vascular tissue known as phloem.
● Along with photosynthesis products, the phloem also transports other substances, which are ultimately
delivered to roots, fruits, seeds, and to growing organs.

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Exercise - 3 Practice questions for concepts of flower, fruit and seed.
1. What are your favourite plants to eat? List five things that come from plants that you like to eat. Then tell
which part of the plant it is. Is it the leaves, stems, roots, fruit, seeds, or flowers?
2. Draw a picture of a plant and label all of its parts. Is it a herb, shrub, or tree? How can you say that?

Exercise - 4 Practice questions for concepts of transport in plants.

1. Name the types of tissues that help in the process of transportation and also their functions.
2. Describe the different tissues involved in the process of transportation of water and Glucose.

Exercise - 5 Draw a diagram of a flower and label its parts in the space provided and colour it.