3rd Grade Biology Test Study Sheet Be able to identify the parts of a plant and their functions: Flower: makes seeds for reproduction Axillary bud: a bud that develops on the axil (looks like a tiny leaf or tiny closed flower bud) Stem: main support of the plant, holds up leaves for photosynthesis and flowers for pollinators Leaf: part of the plant that makes food using sunlight during photosynthesis Roots: structure that gets water and minerals for the plant, it may also store some food. Tap root: main root of some plants Know the functions of these plant parts/processes: Stomata: pores of the leaves that allow carbon dioxide to enter the leaf and oxygen to exit Stem: transports water and minerals Roots: absorb water and minerals from the soil Chloroplasts: disc-like structures in the leaves that convert sunlight into food by a chemical reaction with carbon dioxide and water Photosynthesis: the process by which a plant converts sunlight into food. This chemical reaction also requires carbon dioxide and water. ● The food a plant makes is sugar. A plant is a producer because it produces its own food. We can also eat plants and get energy from the sugar. ● A plant takes in carbon dioxide. Oxygen is a waste product. This is the opposite of animals! To grow and reproduce, plants need: 1) sun 2) soil (for minerals) 3) water 4) carbon dioxide Know what an adaptation and habitat are and give examples of adaptations in plants Plants can adapt to their environment to better meet their needs and survive in their habitat Habitat: the natural home or environment of a plant, animal or other organism Adaptation: changes in an organism to become more suited to an environment -comes from “adaptare” which means “to fit” or “to adjust” Example #1: Cactus Habitat: Desert Adaptations: ● Store water in their stems ● Spines protect them from being eaten and provide a little bit of shade Example #2: Grasses Habitat: Grasslands (can be hot and dry for long periods of time) Adaptations: ● Long root systems to reach water far below ground, survive fires, and survive grazing by herbivores ● Long thin leaves allow less water to escape Example #3: Trees (various) in the rainforest Habitat: Rainforest (always wet) Adaptations: ● Pointed tip leaves and smooth, slippery bark to let rain drop off quickly so bacteria and fungi don’t grow on them Example #4: Epiphytes (also called bromeliads) Habitat: high up on other trees Adaptations: ● can grow without soil ● grow high on trees to reach the sunlight Example #5: Shade plants Habitat: dense forests (dark) Adaptations ● some grow large, flat leaves to take in as much light as possible ● others grow vines to creep up other trees to reach the sunlight
