Basic Plant Parts

Mica visited Aida one afternoon. He waited for Aida in the garden. While waiting, he looked around and observed the plants. Mica noticed the big mango tree. Beside it is a mango seedling. He noticed that plants have different parts. Pull out a small weed in your garden. The different parts of the weed you are holding are the same as the parts of the other plants.

A young plant has a different set of parts compared to a mature plant. Like our body, a plant is made up of parts, too. These parts work together to keep the plant healthy. As a plant grows or matures, it develops other parts. Some plants do not develop a trunk. They only have stems like the tomato plant.

All parts of a plant are important to the plant’s growth and development. Take a look at the parts of a plant and their functions.

The roots of a plant absorb water and nutrients from the soil. The roots also anchor the plant to the soil. The stems hold the leaves. Water and nutrients are distributed to all the parts of the plant through the stems. The trunk of trees hold the stems. In the leaves, the plant uses water and air to make its own food and to grow. The leaves make food with the help of a green pigment, or coloring matter, called chlorophyll. Some plants bear flower that develop into fruits. Fruits contain seeds, which can grow into new plants. Flower attack insects and birds by their color, their sweet smell or nectar. These animals help “pollinate” flowers. A flower is said to be pollinated when pollen grains (of that kind of flower) reach it. Pollination helps the flower make seeds. A fruit is a special part of any flowering plant. After a flower has been pollinated, it becomes a fruit. Seeds are found inside the fruit. The fruit protects the seeds and holds them there until they are easy to get out and grow into new plants. A seed carries a baby plant. It has stored food for this tiny plant. The shape of the seed helps this baby plant to travel to places where it can grow.

The different parts of a plant work together to make the plant grow.