Name ___________________ Date __________ Class __________________
What are Roots, Stems and Leaves?
All plants are made up of many cells. The cells of
vascular plants, or tracheophytes, form tissues. Tissues
are groups of cells that look alike and do the same job.
The tissues of vascular plants also are organized into
organs. Roots, stems and leaves are three plant organs.
ROOTS
PARTS OF A ROOT
Roots are tube-like structures made up of three layers. Many tiny, hair-like structures
called root hairs come out from the outer layer. Root hairs help a root to absorb more
water.
The middle layer stores water and food for the root.
The inner layer is made up of transport, or vascular tissue.
Most roots grow underground. Roots hold a plant in the
soil. Roots also take in water and dissolved minerals
from the soil, and in some plants, food is stored in the
roots.
The tip of a root is covered by a root cap. The root cap protects a root tip from
damage as the tip grows into the soil.
STEMS
The main job of stems is to support the leaves. Stems
also are important organs for carrying materials between
the roots and leaves. In some plants, stems store food
too. For example, the stems of sugar cane store large
amounts of sugar.
LEAVES
How would you describe a leaf? You would probably say
that a leaf is green, flat and thin. Leaves are green
because they contain chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is needed
for a plant to make its own food. Food-making takes
place in the leaves of a plant.
Figure A
Answer the questions below by studying the reading selection and Figure A.
1. How many layers make up a root?
2. On what layer are root hairs found?
3. What is the job of root hairs?
4. What is the inner layer made up of?
5. What structure covers a root tip?
KINDS OF ROOTS
WHAT DO PICTURES SHOW?
There are two main kinds of root systems. They are
fibrous [FY-brus] root systems and taproot systems.
Fibrous roots are made up of many thin, branched
roots. A taproot system has one large root. Many
small, thin roots grow out from the large root.
Read about each picture. Then answer the
questions next to the picture.
Identify the kind of root system shown in Figures B to E
as a fibrous root or a taproot system.
There are two kinds of plant stems. They are
herbaceous [hur-BA-shus] stems and wood stems.
Herbaceous stems are soft and green.
1. What are two kinds of plant stems?
2. What kinds of stem does a tulip plant have?
3. Why do you think plants with herbaceous stems
do not grow very tall?
Woody stems are thick, hard and rough. All trees
have woody stems.
4. Wood stems ________________ green.
are/are not
5. What is the rough outer layer of a woody stem
called?
Both herbaceous stems and woody stems have
transport tubes. One group of tubes carries
materials up from the roots. The other carries
material from the leaves downward throughout the
plant.
6. What materials do transport tubes carry up from
the roots?
7. What material do transport tubes carry from the
leaves?
LEAVES
Most leaves have a stalk and a wide, flat part called the blade. The
stalk attaches the leaf to the stem. Food-making takes place in the
blade. Throughout the blade are many veins. The veins are made
up of transport tissue.
GAS EXCHANGE
Stomates are tiny holes on the underside of a plant’s leaves. Oxygen
and carbon dioxide from the air enter a plant through the stomates.
Along with water, oxygen and carbon dioxide also leave a plant through
the stomates.
1. For what process do plants need oxygen?
2. What are the waste products of respiration?
Figure 1 Leaf parts
3. What gas do plants need to make their own food?
In some plants, the leaf blades are in one piece. This kind of lead is a
simple leaf. In other plants, the leaf is divided into smaller piece
called leaflets. This kind of leaf is a compound leaf.
Figure J
Simple leaf
Figure K
Compound
leaf
FILL IN THE BLANK
Complete each statement using a term or terms from the list below. Write your answers in the spaces provided. Some words may be used
more than once.
compound
stomates
protects
transport
stems
many
woody
food-making
taproot
1. Herbaceous _______________________ are soft and green.
2. The veins of a leaf are made up of _______________________ tissue.
3. A carrot has a _______________________ system.
4. Fibrous roots are made up of _______________________ thin, branched roots.
5. Oxygen enters a plant through the _______________________.
6. The main job of _______________________ is to support the leaves.
7. _______________________ takes place in the leaves.
8. The root cap _______________________ the root tip.
9. _______________________ stems are thick and rough.
10. A _______________________ leaf is divided into leaflets.
MATCHING
Match each term in Column A with its description in Column B. Write the correct letter in the space provided.
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Column A
root hairs
fibrous root system
simple leaf
roots
transport tubes
stomates
root cap
blade
Column B
a. take in water and dissolved minerals
b. carry materials throughout a plant
c. wide, flat part of a leaf
d. covers the root tip
e. tiny holes
f. leaf blades are in one piece
g. root system of grass
h. help a root absorb more water