Morphology of Plants

Morphology of plants Version 1 : It the study and description of different organs of a plant.

External morphology: It is the study and description of external characters of plant organs like root , stem, leaf, flower, fruit, seed etc.

Root:

• Root is the underground main axis of the plant body.
• Root grows underground in positively geotropic or negatively phototropic manner.
• The root is not differentiated into nodes and internodes.
• Leaves and normal buds are absent.
• Root is non chlorophyllous and brown coloured.
• Root apex is protected by root cap. Root hairs are unicellular.
• Functions of root are anchorage, absorption of water and conduction of water and minerals.

Stem:

• Stem is the vertically growing axis of the shoot system. It grows positively phototropic and negatively geotropic.
• The vertical growth of the stem is maintained by apical bud.
• Stem is divisible into nodes and internodes.
• Leaves are developed on the stem and nodes. The angle between the leaf and the stem is called axil. The axillary buds developed in the axils produce branches.
• Young stems are green and woody stems are brown in colour.
• Functions of stem is to conduct the water and mineral salts absorbed by root to leaves and other parts. It also conducts the prepared starch from leaf to other parts. It act as a support.

Leaf:

• Leaves are lateral appendages developed exogenously from the nodes of the stem.
• They are usually flat and green.
• Functions of leaf are
  • It synthesizes food by photosynthesis.
  • It controls oxygen and carbondioxide movement.
  • It promotes internal transportation of water and minerals.

Thus 3 main functions are photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration.