Science: Grade 4
Life and Living: Growth of Plants
GROWTH OF PLANTS
How Plants Grow
More than half of plant species are seed plants. This means that they make seeds from which
other plants can grow.
Seedlings
Other types of plants make new plants from bulbs, cuttings, grafts and buds. A bulb plant,
such as the tulip and the daffodil, can reproduce by dividing its bulb and creating another
plant.
Apple Blossom Bud
Ginger Root
Flower Bulb
Bamboo Graft
Flower Buds
Poppy Capsule
A cutting is a part of a plant that is cut from a parent plant and rooted to form a new plant.
Version 1: December 2013
© Copyright My Cyberwall
1
Science: Grade 4
Life and Living: Growth of Plants
The new plant will have the same characteristics as the parent plant. A cutting is a practical
and inexpensive way of growing plants.
Plant Cutting
Germination of Seeds
In order for seeds to grow or germinate, they need the following:





air
light
warmth
water
nutrients from the soil
Air
Light
Warmth
Version 1: December 2013
© Copyright My Cyberwall
2
Science: Grade 4
Life and Living: Growth of Plants
Water
Nutrients from the Soil
A seed will start to grow when the soil around it is damp and warm.
If the temperature is too cold, a plant will not grow from a seed. If it is kept in a dark place, it
will grow very tall, looking for light, but it will be weak and will soon die.
A plant needs to be watered, otherwise it will have a weak stem, its leaves will dry up and it
will die.
Greenhouse
The Process of Germination of a Bean Seed
1. Once the bean seed is planted, the seed swells with the water that it has taken in and then
the seed coat splits open.
2. The radical is a small root that begins to grow downwards. It has tiny white “hairs” that
take in water and nutrients from the soil.
3. A small stem appears between the two cotyledons which has tiny leaves. This is called
the plumule and it grows upwards. The young leaves above the ground turn green and
start to make food for the seedling or young plant.
4. Side roots (lateral roots) grow further from the radical.
Version 1: December 2013
© Copyright My Cyberwall
3
Science: Grade 4
Life and Living: Growth of Plants
5. The embryo of the seed has started to grow and a new plant has been formed. We say that
germination has taken place.
Source:
Original Creation: Uploader, Siyavula: Compare the Growth of Plants, Connections web site:
http://cnx.org/content/m19919/latest/?collection=col11096/latest
Propagation by Seeds:
http://cnx.org/content/m19955/latest/?collection=col10981/latest
How Seed is Distributed:
http://cnx.org/content/m19957/latest/?collection=col10981/latest
Germination of Seeds:
http://cnx.org/content/m19958/latest/?collection=col10981/latest
Version 1: December 2013
© Copyright My Cyberwall
4