basic botany for 5th class and above student

basic botany

1. Basic Botany
Narendra Chandewar
DFO, Ecotourism

2. Some Question….?
Onion- is stem or root ?
Cactus spine– is leaf or stem ?
Propagation through Leaf…is it possible?
Ginger / turmeric- root or what ?
Root propagation - ?
Thorn are bud ?
Bracts are leaf or thorn?
Hooks are leaflet or thorn?

3. Objectives
To develop a basic
understanding of:
Botany
Plant Physiology
Environmental Factors that
affect Plant Growth
To apply this basic
understanding to home
gardening.

4. Topics
Plant Parts and Functions
Stems
Leaves
Buds
Roots
Flowers
Fruit
Seed
Plant Development
Photosynthesis
Respiration
Transpiration
Environmental Factors Affecting Plant Growth
Temperature
Light
Water

5. Plant Parts
Reproductive
Flower Buds
Flower
Fruit
Seeds
Plant parts of sexual reproduction
Vegetative
Roots
Stems
Leaves
Leaf Buds
Often used in asexual reproduction (vegetative)

6. Principal Parts of a Vascular Plant

7. Stems
Stems support:
Buds
Flowers
Leaves
Stems transport:
Water
Minerals
Sugars
Nodes
The points where leaves develop along a stem
Regions of high cellular activity
The distance between nodes (internode) is affected by:
Light (etiolation)
Water
Nutrients (N and micros)
Genetics

8. Nodes and Buds
Many plants develop one or more buds at the nodes
(axillary buds)
Axillary buds may grow into lateral branches
When pruning a plant it is very important to make cuts just
above axillary buds:
Axillary buds grow
Wound heals quickly
When making cuttings, they should be made just below a
node:
Many plants root more easily at nodes, some only at nodes.
Managing light, water, nutrients, and genetics are
important to healthy transplant production!

9. Proper Pruning Cut: Tree

10. Proper Pruning Cut: Cane

11. Plant Cuttings

12. Types of Stems
Shoot
A young stem with leaves present
Twig
A stem less than 1 year old with no leaves present (dormant)
Branch
A stem more than 1 year old, with lateral buds
Trunk
A main stem of a woody plant
Trees generally have a single trunk
Shrubs often have 2 or more trunks
Vines
 A long trailing stem that is able to support itself by winding
around other plants

13. Types of Stems and Modifications
Canes
A stem that lives only a year or two
Contain a large amount pith (soft tissue) in the center
Stem modifications
Above-Ground
Crowns
Stolons
Spurs
Below-Ground
Bulbs
Corms
Rhizomes
Tubers
All of these have buds or leaves present
Can you think of examples of these structures?

14. Above-Ground Stem Modifications
Stolons and Crowns Spurs

15. Below-Ground Stem Development
Rhizomes Tubers

16. Below-Ground Stem Development
Corm Bulb

17. Vascular Tissue:
“The Plants Circulatory System”
Xylem
Transports water, nutrients, & minerals from roots to upper portions of the
plant
Forms the “wood” of woody plants
Phloem
Conducts sugars from leaves to growing points, fruits, & storage areas
Comprises much of the bark of woody plants
Cambium
Cambium is the meristematic tissue (the site of cell division and
growth)
It is located between the xylem and phloem and produces both
tissues
Other meristematic tissue is found at the apical bud, where stem
elongation takes place

18. Arrangements of Vascular Tissue
“Dicots”
Vascular tissue form rings
Woody plants
“Monocots”
Vascular tissue arranged in bundles
Grasses, Orchids, Lilies
Lack cambium tissue between xylem and phloem
Stems of dicots tend to grow in diameter, while stems of
monocots tend not to increase in diameter
What does knowing about these tissues reveal to you
about:
Damage to the bark of a tree?
Grafting?

19. Diagram of Vascular Tissue

20. Life Span of a Stem
We often classify stems by how long they live:
Annual
Produce seed and die within 1 year
Biennials
Produce vegetative structures and food storage organs the first year
Reproduction takes place the second year and the plant dies
When stressed, biennials can go through the entire process in 1 year
(bolting)
Perennials
Live 3 or more years
Usually produce flowers and seeds every year
Herbaceous Perennial
Shoots which die back to the ground every year
“Biennial Perennials”

21. Leaves
Leaves:
Are attached to the stem by petioles
Consist of:
Blade
Midrib
Smaller Veins
Function
To manufacture sugars in a process called photosynthesis
Functions
Petiole:
Expands the leaf area and orients the leaf
Blade:
Provides a large area for the efficient absorption of light
Midrib and Veins:
Conducts water, sugar, and other compounds throughout the leaf

22. Type of Leaves

23. Outer Leaf Structure
Epidermis
Outer protective layer
Trichomes
Extensions of epidermis that make leaves feel like velvet
Cuticle
Waxy layer (cutin) in some plants that protects plants from:
Dehydration
Penetration by some diseases
Guard Cells
Special epidermal cells that are capable of enlarging and contracting
Stomates
Openings that develop between enlarged guard cells
Usually on the underneath side of the leaf
Regulate the passage of water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in and out of the
leaf

24. Inner Leaf Structure
Mesophyll
Where photosynthesis occurs
Is comprised of 2 layers
Palisade cells
Parenchyma layer
Palisade Cells
Dense upper layers of the leaf
Parenchyma Layer
Lower spongy area with considerable air space
Chloroplasts
Actual site of photosynthesis
Found in the palisade cells and the parenchyma layer
Some plants vary leaf thickness with environmental conditions
Special Leaves
Bracts
Tendrils
Cotyledons

25. Structure of a Leaf Blade

26. Bracts

27. Tendrils

28. Cotyledons

29. Leaf Shape and Plant Identification
Leaves are one of the primary characteristics in plant identification
Veining
“Structure”
Shape
Margins
Arrangement
Leaf Veins
Veins are the continuation of vascular tissue from the stem, through the
petiole
Veining Patterns
Parallel
Run parallel with length of the leaf
Are connected by minute, straight veins
Prominent in monocots
Net
Pinnate
Palmate
Prominent in dicots

30. Types of Leaf Veins

31. Leaf “Structure”, Shape, and Margins
“Structure”
Simple
Compound
Palmate
Pinnate
Double Pinnate
Shape
Blade
Apex
Base
Margins
Entire
Serrate
Crenate
Dentate
Ciliate
Lacerate
Sinuate
Incised
Lobed
Cleft

32. Simple and Compound Leaf Types

33. Leaf Shapes

34. Common Leaf Shapes
Acuminate:Tapering to a long, narrow point.
Acute: Ending in an acute angle, with a
sharp but, not acuminate point.
Obtuse: Tapering to a rounded edge.
Sagittate:Arrowhead-shaped, with two
pointed lower lobes.
Truncate:Having a relatively square end.

35. Leaf Margins

36. Common Leaf Margins
Entire:A smooth edge with no teeth or notches.
Serrate:Having small, sharp teeth pointed toward the apex.
Dentate:Having teeth ending in an acute angle, pointing
outward.
Crenate:Having rounded teeth.
Sinuate:Having a pronounced sinus or wavy margin.
Incised:Margin cut into sharp, deep, irregular teeth or
incisions.
Lobed:Incisions extend less than halfway to the midrib.
Cleft:Incisions extend more than halfway to the midrib.

37. Leaf Arrangement
Leaf arrangement along the stem
Rosulate
Basal leaves form a rosette
Short internodes
Opposite
Two leaves exactly opposite
Alternate
Steps or spiraled
Whorled
Circles of three or more leaves
Uses of Leaves
Food
Humans
Animals
Wild
Livestock
Ornamental
Color
Shape
Soil Amendments

38. Leaf Arrangement

39. Leaf Arrangement (cont.)

40. Buds
Buds are undeveloped shoots from which leaf or flower
parts arise
Bud Scales
Small, leathery, modified leaves that cover buds
Bud Scale Scars
Scars formed when the bud scales are removed
Used in plant identification
Types of Buds
Terminal – dominant
Auxin
Lateral or axillary
Adventitious
May originate from internodes, leaves, or callus tissue of stems or roots
Chilling Requirements
Bud Use

41. Roots
Principal Functions
Obvious
Absorb Water
Nutrient Uptake
Also
Transport water and nutrients to the stem
Anchor / Support
Serve as storage organs
Propagation
Parts or Zones of Growth
Merisematic Zone
Where new cells are formed
Root Cap – protects root tip
Zone of Elongation
Cells increase in size and push root
Zone of Maturation
Cells differentiate
Root hairs form – short-lived, small roots - absorption

42. Root Structure

43. Root Systems
Two types of Root Systems
Tap
Develops a main tap root with various amounts of lateral rooting
Fibrous
Develops small roots that spread out in a mat-like growth
Uses
Food
Humans
Fresh
Processed
Animals ?
Medicinal
Dried
Fresh ?

44. Flowers
Flowers are generally the
showiest part of the plant, but
they also serve a purpose
Sexual Reproduction
Color and / or
Odor
attracts pollinators (insects)
Flowers are least influenced by
environmental conditions;
therefore they are important in
plant identification.

45. Flower Parts
Sepals
Small, green leaf-like structures at the base of the flower that
protect the flower bud
Collectively – Calyx
Petals
Colored and aromatic part
Collectively – Corolla
The number of sepals and / or petals helps identify the
family or genera
Dicots generally have multiples of 4 or 5
Monocots generally have multiples of 3
Example
Members of the “Rose” family have 5 petals and sepals.

46. Reproductive Flower Parts
Female
Pistil (shaped like a bowling pin)
Stigma (top)
Style (middle)
Ovary (bottom)
Placenta
Ovules – develop into seed after pollination
Male
Stamen (flowers often have a cluster of stamens around the
pistil)
Anther (pollen sac)
Pollen is produced by the anther
Filament (“stem”) supports the anther

47. Structure of a Generalized Flower

48. Types of Flowers
Complete – all four parts
Incomplete – lacks one part
Perfect – contains both function pistils and stamens
Imperfect – lacks a functioning pistil or stamen
Self-pollination
Cross-pollination
Monoecious – both male and female flowers on one plant
Dioecious – contains only male or female flowers on a
single plant

49. Common Flower Inflorescences

50. Common Flower Inflorescences (cont.)

51. What Is a Fruit?
Something you eat for desert (not with the entrée)
Botanically, fruit is a ripened ovary
Mature ovules (seeds)
Ovary wall (flesh)
Examples
Tomatoes, cucumber, eggplant, beans
Types of fruit
Simple
Single flower – tomato
Aggregate (compound)
Single flower with many ovaries – strawberry
Multiple
Tight cluster of many flowers – pineapple

52. Seed Structure
Three Main Parts
Embryo – partially developed plant in a dormant state
Radicle – embryonic stem
Hypocotyl – stem
Cotyledons – seed leaves
Plumule – underdeveloped stem and leaves
Endosperm – food source
Seed Coat – protection from insects, diseases, and germination
Seed Growth
Germination – resumption of seed growth
Moisture
Oxygen
Favorable temperature
Light (sometimes)

53. Primary Parts of Common Seeds

54. Seed Germination and Storage
Most seeds require time after maturity before they will
germinate.
Others will require:
Stratification
Scarification
Soaking
Time, time, time!
Storage
Seeds are living things!
They “live” longer when maintained in a cool and dry
environment.
Keep seed packets air tight (except beans ?)
Store in a refrigerator or freezer

55. Plant Growth and Development
Three major processes
Photosynthesis
Respiration
Transpiration

56. Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis – “to put together with light”
Requirements:
Light
Carbon Dioxide
Water
Suitable Temperature
Process – very complicated, but a simple description
Carbon dioxide and water are combined using solar energy
Simple sugars (glucose is formed and oxygen is give off (in the
chloroplasts)
Simple sugars are then converted into more complex sugars and
starches; and stored
All green tissue is capable of photosynthesis, but most takes place
in the leaves
What limits photosynthesis?

57. Respiration and Transpiration
Respiration is the “opposite” of photosynthesis
Carbohydrates are broken down and the energy released is
used for life processes
As night-time temperatures increase, respiration increases
Transpiration is the process by which plants loose water vapor
90% of the water entering a plant is transpired
Water movement is important in moving nutrients, minerals, sugars,
and other compounds; as well as maintaining turgor pressure and
evaporative cooling

58. How a Plant Grows

59. Photosynthesis vs. Respiration
Photosynthesis
Produces sugars
Stores energy
Releases oxygen
Uses water
Uses carbon dioxide
Occurs in sunlight
Occurs in chloroplast
Respiration
Uses sugars for energy
Release energy
Uses oxygen
Produces water
Produces carbon dioxide
Occurs in dark and light
Occurs in all cells

60. Environmental Factors
Primary environmental
influencing plant growth
Temperature
Light
Water

61. Temperature
Temperature is the main
environmental factor affecting
plant growth
Germination
Cool-Season vs. Warm-Season
Hardiness
Cold – Desiccation
Heat
Growth and fruit set
Temperature influences quality!

62. Temperature and Germination

63. Light
Three principal characteristics:
Quantity
Intensity or brightness
Phototropism
Quality
Color or wavelengths
Red and blue light are most important
Green is reflected by the plant
Duration
Photoperiod – amount of time a plant is exposed
Short-Day
Flower during long nights
Mums and poinsettia
Day-Neutral
Not influenced by day length
Ever-bearing strawberries
Long-Day
Flower during short nights
Most summer plants

64. Light Management
Not Enough! Too Much!

65. Water
Water comprises most of all living things!
The plant is no different!
Main component of protoplasm – the living part of the cell
Water Acquisition
Root hairs
Vascular tissue
Stomates
Quality
Low in salts
Temperature
Quantity
Too much
Diseases
Too little
Wilting
Special structures
Leaves

66. Water Management
Too Much! Not Enough!

67. Questions?

68. THANK YOU…!

69. Required Material
1.Plant- whole
2.Leaf - different types
3.Bamboo- node , internode
4.Flower – whole/big
5.Root – tap/fibrous
6.Vine – different
7.Seed - different