GETTING TO KNOW

PLANTS CLASS 6
SHAHNAAZ PARVEEN
 As we all know, Earth is the only planet in our solar system that has the viable conditions for life
to exist. While the presence of water and oxygen is the main reason, we must also recognize that
life would not have been possible if it weren’t for the oxygen-emitting plants, life would not have
been able to take shape on Earth. These plants are not only our source of oxygen but also the
major source of the food that we eat.

Classification of Plants On the basis of their Size, Type of Stem, spread of

branch, plants are classified into 3 categories:
Plants can be classified into various categories depending on various
features. Herbs
On the basis of FLOWER Shrubs
Flowering also called Angiosperms : Sun flower, Rose, tomato Trees
Non- Flowering also called Gymnosperms: Pines,ferns,mosses.
Characteristics Herbs Shrubs Trees herbs

Medium-sized plants
Short plants with height Tallest plant with height
Size with height around 1-
less than 1m more than 3-4 m
3m

Green and tender stem, Hard & woody stem,

Nature of stem Thick
have a few branches not very thick.

Branches arise from the

upper part of the stem at
Branches arise from some distances from the
Branches are either
the base of the stem ground. Some trees like
Type of branches absent or present
giving it a bushy coconut tree are branch
sparsely
appearance less; they have only one
stem that bears leaves,
flowers and fruits

mint, tomato, spinach, Rose, lemon, henna, Banyan, mango, neem

Examples
wheat, paddy, grass etc. hibiscus etc cashew, oak etc
Herb: These are plants that have green and frail Shrubs: These are plants with hard but not exactly thick stems.
stems. Usually, these are small plants with not Their branches generally originate from the base of their stems.
many branches. These are much taller than herbs but usually shorter than trees.

Some common examples of herbs are Basil, Some common examples of shrubs are Aloe Vera, Rose plant,
Coriander, Mint, Oregano, Thyme, Parsley, Jasmine plant, Blackberry plant etc.
Rosemary etc.

Trees: These are plants which are very tall and have a thick and hard stem. The branches originate
from the upper part of the tree and are very high above the ground.

Some common examples of trees are neem, peepal, coconut tree, mango tree etc
Certain plants have weak steams and cannot stand upright.
They are categorised into two types:

Creepers
The stems of these plants spread/trail on the ground.
Stems are long, thin and fragile and cannot stand erect.
Examples – water melon, strawberry, pumpkin, sweet potato
etc

Climbers
More advanced than creepers.
They have thin long and weak stems that cannot stand upright
but they can use external support to grow vertically and carry
their weight.
These types of plants use special structures called tendrils to
climb.
Examples – pea plant, grapevine, money plant, etc.
SOME OTHER TYPES OF PLANTS

MOSS
Small non flowering green plants.
Grow in damp and shady areas.

GRASS
Flowering plants.
Short in height.
Long narrow leaves.

AQUATIC PLANTS
Grow in water only.
They are either rooted in mud under water (lotus) or float
without any anchorage (water hyacinth) other e.g. water
lilies, hydrilla & tape grass.
PARTS OF A PLANT

Root System- Non-green part of

the plant present under the ground.
Contains Main root and Lateral
roots.

Shoot System- Present above the

ground. Contains Stem, branches,
leaves, flowers, buds, fruits.
 ROOT SYSTEM MODIFICATIONS OF ROOTS
Modifications- Roots performing special functions other than
The root is a very important component of the plant their normal functions. For this, they undergo few changes in
system, as, without the presence of roots the plant ceases their appearance.
to exist. This is because the roots perform three major Food storage
functions essential to the growth and survival of the plant Tap roots store food for unfavourable conditions.
which are: Can be eaten and are called Edible Roots.
Example: Carrot, beetroot, radish, sweet potato.
Roots are responsible for absorbing minerals and
water from the soil and transferring them to the stem. Extra Support
It’s only after root has transported water and minerals to Prop Roots
stem that the stem becomes capable of transporting these Roots grow as pillars to support weak stem or heavy branches.
to all parts of the plant. Example: Banyan tree.

Another important function of roots is to firmly Stilt Roots

anchor the plant in the ground. This is essential to Roots arise from stem to give support to weak stem.
support the upright position of the plants. Example: Maize
Climbing Roots
Roots also perform the function of storing important Roots help weak stems to climb up a support.
nutrients and food for growth Example: Money Plant and Black Pepper.
 Tap Roots Fibrous Roots

1. In this type of root system, there is 1. In this type of root system, a

one prominent and long root and a group of similar sized roots
bunch of smaller roots that grow emerge from the base of the
from this main root called lateral plant. They do not have a main
roots. root.

2. It is hard to pull out plants with tap 2. These plants are relatively
roots as these go deep within the easier to pull out as the roots
soil. don’t go very deep in the soil.

3. This root system is seen to exist in 3. This root system is seen to

plants with leaves displaying exist in plants with leaves
reticulate venation. displaying parallel venation

4. Examples of plants with tap roots: 4. Examples of plants with

carrots, turnip, gram, gram, China fibrous roots: banana, wheat,
rose etc. maize, onion, bamboo etc.
 SHOOT SYSTEM-STEM

Main part of shoot stem.

Bears branches, leaves, flowers, buds and fruits.
Stem has two main parts- Node and Internode
Node- Point from where leaf or a branch arises. Several nodes are present in a stem
Internode- Portion of stem between two nodes.

The Stem is the part of a plant which is responsible for FUNCTIONS OF STEMS:
supplying water to all parts of the plant. It is the stem which Keeps plant upright.
bears branches, flowers, leaves, fruits and buds. The root sucks Helps in Transportation of water, minerals, and food to
the water and minerals from the soil and it is the stem’s function different parts.
to push this water upward to other parts of the plant.
MODIFICATIONS OF STEMS
LEAF
Providing Support: Tender, coiled structures called tendrils
coil around any support. Present in weak stems. Called climbers
or twiners. FUNCTIONS OF LEAVES
Example: Grapevines • Photosynthesis- KITCHEN OF PLANT
Food storage • Presence of stomata on the surface of leaves helps in
Underground stems store food. gaseous exchange.
Example: Potato, onion, ginger. • Transpiration – loss of water in the form of vapour
Making food from leaves. Helps in
Green and fleshy stem. • Maintaining temperature.
Can perform photosynthesis and store water. Absorption of more water and minerals from the soil.
Example: Cactus.
Parts of a Leaf
Petiole: This is the stalk via which the leaf is joined to the plant.

Lamina: This is the expanded part or the green portion of any leaf
which is responsible for photosynthesis.

Veins: The many lines that run through the surface of the leaf are
called veins and the design made by them is called leaf venation.
They transport water and minerals.

Midrib: This is the central, prominent thick structure right in the

middle of the leaf that helps support the leaf and prevent it from
breaking.
VENATION
Venation is the phenomenon of arrangement
of veins in the lamina of the leaf surface.
TYPES OF VENATIONS:

• Parallel venation – veins run parallel to each other from

the petiole to the tip of the leaf, found in the leaves of
grasses, cereals (wheat, rice) and banana.
• This type of venation is seen to exist in dicots like guava
and mango.

 Reticulate venation – several small veins/veinlets arise

from the midrib, found in the leaves of mango, Hibiscus,
rose, tulsi, papaya etc.
 This type of venation is seen to exist in monocots like
banana, wheat, coconut etc.
MODIFICATIONS OF LEAF.

 Spines –
reduces the surface area of leaves and minimizes the loss of
water due to transpiration.
defence mechanism of plants to prevent animals from eating
them.
found in desert plants.
 Pitcher –
Seen in insectivorous plants.
Modified leaves (pitchers) capture insects to fulfil their nitrogen
requirement (nitrogen is required for protein synthesis)
Pitcher plants grow in nitrogen deficient soil.
These plants can also make food through photosynthesis

 Tendrils
Tip of leaves gets modified to tendrils.
Provide extra support to plants.
Found in pea plant, Gloriosa, cucumber plant etc.
 Transpiration is the process through which
plants release the excess amount of water
in the air.

 Transpiration is important for the plants

as it helps the plants to cool down. In the
absence of transpiration, the temperature
of the leaf becomes unregulated which
may lead to the eventual death of the
plant.
Photosynthesis is defined as the
process that helps leaves prepare
food for the plant with the help of
carbon dioxide and water.
Starch test on leaf
 The flowers are the colourful, seed-bearing parts of the plant that grows at the end of the
Flower stem. A typical flower exhibits the following structure:

Petals: These are bright, colourful and broad parts of the flower. Taken together, the petals
of the flower form what is called a Corolla.

Sepal: This is the green, leaf-like structure of the flower that encloses the petals and is
responsible for protecting the flower when it is in its bud form and supporting it when it is
in its bloom stage.

Stamen: These are the long and slender parts of the flower that become visible upon
removing the petals and sepal of a flower. Typically, a stamen consists of an anther i.e. the
head of the stamen and a filament i.e. the long cream-colored stick. The stamen is also
known as the male reproductive part of the plant.

Pistil: This is the innermost part of the flower, typically consisting of a stigma i.e. the head
of the pistil, a style, which is the long sticky part that attaches the stigma to the ovary i.e.
the small and swollen sphere at the base of the pistil. Pistil is the female reproductive part
of any flower. The ovary contains small bead-like structures which are called ovules.
 Multiple Choice Questions Q.4.The food prepared by leaves is stored as?
(a) Sugars (b) Proteins (c) starch (d) fats
Q.1 Which of the following is a not the function of root?
(a) Absorbs water and minerals from soil and transports to stem Q.5 The raw materials used by plants for photosynthesis are
(b) Prevents Soil Erosion (a)Carbon dioxide
(c) Provides support and fixes plant to the soil (b) Water
(d) Photosynthesis (c) Green substance in the plant
(e) Stores food (d) Nitrogen
(f) it holds the branches, leaves, flowers and fruits
Q.6 Which one of the following is the not the function of leaf
normally?
Q.2 Which of these term is not associated with flower? (a) Transportation
(a) pistil (b) Transpiration
(b) sepals (c) Respiration
(c) ovary (d) Photosynthesis
(d) anther and filament
(e) midrib Q.7Stomata help in
Q.3 Tomato plant is a? (a) Respiration (b) Photo Synthesis (c) Transpiration (d) All of
(a) Shrub the above
(b) Herb
(c) tree
(d) None of these
Q.8. The female reproductive part of the plant is
(a) pistil (b) stamens.
(c) Anther (d) filament

Q.9 Very short answer type question.

(i)Name the part of the plant known as food factory. Answers(i) leaf
(ii)Where are pollen grains stored? (ii) Anther
(iii)Name the female part of the flower. (iii) Pistil
(iv)What is the outer covering of a seed called? (iv)seed coat
(v)Name the root system which have bushy appearance? (v)fibrous.

Question 10
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTION.
i. List two functions of leaf
ii. Differentiate between parallel & reticulate venation.
iii. What is the function of petiole?
iv. What is the importance of transpiration?
v. Name the structures that develop into fruit & seed.