Transcript Plants - volusiathirdgradescience

Plants
Why do Plants Need Roots & Stems?
How Roots Help Plants…
 The root system of a
plant is often found
below the ground
where you can’t see it.
 Roots take in water and
materials called
minerals from the soil.
 The roots also store
food made by the plant.
Taproots
 Many plants such as carrots and
dandelions have a large root called a
taproot.
 The taproot grows deep into the soil.
 A taproot stores food for the plant.
 Have you ever tasted a carrot or a beet?
 If YES! Then you have eaten the taproot
of a PLANT!
Roots that we eat
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Beet
Radish
Carrot
Turnip
 At the tips of roots are tiny root hairs.
 Plants take in water through their root
hairs.
 Water travels through the root hairs and
into the plants stem and leaves. ‘The
roots must take in water to replace water
lost from the plants leaves.
 Sunshine and hot air can dry a plant out!
How Stems Help Plants…
 A plant’s stems
hold up its leaves,
flowers, and fruits.
 Most stems have
tubes that move
water and
minerals from the
roots of plants to
the leaves.
 Other tubes carry
food from the
leaves of plants to
the stems and
roots.
Stolons
 Some stems are called stolons and are
thin and grow along the surface of the
ground.
 These stems can grow roots and a new
plant.
Vines
 Some stems
called vines
grow parts that
wrap around
objects that
support the
plant.
Cactus
 Cactus stems swell up as they store
water.
 Cactus stems shrink as the plant uses
water.
 Cactus stems have a thick, waxy
covering to help keep them from losing
water.
 This helps them survive in the desert.
Cactus
Underground Stems
 Some stems grow
underground.
 When you eat a potato,
you eat a stem part
that stored food
underground.
 Underground stems can
sprout new stems from
buds.
 These buds grow
upward and become
new plants.
Special Features
 Some stems have special features that
offer them protection.
 For example thorns, spines, or stinging
hairs to keep hungry animals from eating
them.
Special Features