Plants are varied in both species and life spans. Annual flowering plants live for one year only; biennial plants live for two years, producing only leaves in the first year and flowering in the next. Perennial plants live for more than two years and may be evergreen (never losing its leaves) or deciduous (loses its leaves in the Fall). However, all plants consist of some basic parts.
The Root of a Plant
The root is usually found in the soil below the plant and anchors the plant. There are many types of roots including:
- Conical Root – the root tapers regularly from the crown to the apex of the plant, for example, a carrot (Daucus carota).
- Napiform Root – the root is swollen at the base and extends horizontally more than vertically, such as in a turnip (Brassica napa).
- Fusiform Root – the root tapers both up and down, for example, a radish (Rhapanus sativus).
- Fasciculated Root – the fibers or branches are thickened.
- Tuberiferous Root – some of the branches of the root become rounded knobs, such as in a potato (Solanum tuberosum) and sometimes culminate in a branch known as a palmate root.
- Aerial Root – the root actually grows into the open air, such as in Indian Corn.
Other roots include rhizome (root stock), tuber, bulb and cormus.
The Stem of a Plant
Stems are found in all flowering plants; they grow towards the light and air, away from the root. Plants which are considered stemless, actually have the stem below ground or the stem is extremely short. A tree has a stem, although it is commonly called the trunk; a tree with a trunk which has no branches near the ground, has the ability to grower taller than one which does. Herbs have stems which die after flowering.
The Leaf of a Plant
A leaf grows on the part of the stalk, or unexpanded part of the plant, called the petiole. The leaves of a fern are called fronds. The various types of leaves on a plant are:
- Lanceolate
- Cuneiform
- Sagittate
- Ovate
- Cordate
- Reniform
- Hastate
- Serrate
- Peltate
- Dentate
- Crenate
- Sinuate
- Pinnate
- Pectinate
- Runcinate
- Lyrate
- Palmate
- Pedate
- Obovate
The Flower of a Plant
The flower is a complex mixture of parts which bind together to make up the flower. In simple terms the various parts of a flower are the petals (made up of the Corolla), the calyx (the outer, or green, leaves), the stamen (containing the pollen which insects and birds are attracted to) and the pistil (containing the ovary, the style and the stigma of the flower).
The Fruit and Seed of a Plant
The various types of fruit of a plant are follicule, legume (pod), drupe, achenium, caryopsis, cremocarp, nut, berry, samara, pome, pepo, silique, capsule and cone. The seed contains the nucleus; the seed is from which a new plant may grow, given the right growing conditions.
Further study of botany is needed to understand how the various parts of a plant relate, the purpose served and how each species of plant may differ. Botany is a complex study which includes how plants evolved, the scientific classification system, plant ecology, medicinal plants, plant species and most recently ethnobotany.
References:
Meyer, Joseph E, 1986 (Revised) The Herbalist Illinois: Meyer Books
For Further Reading:
Harris, James G, Harris, Melinda Woolf, 1994 (2nd Edition) Plant Identification Terminology Utah: Spring Lake Publishing
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