PARTS OF A PLANT A plant has many different parts that perform various functions. Root, stem and leaves belong to the , made up of a and . Flower, fruit and seed, instead, belong to the vegetative structure root system shoot system reproductive structure. Vegetative structure The is normally underground and consists of the primary root, its lateral roots and root hairs. It enables flowering plants to obtain water and nutrients from the soil. The of the root system include: – of the plant in the soil; – absorption of water and nutrients from the soil in mineral solutions, mainly through root hairs; – storage of food; – transport of water and dissolved substances from the roots into the stem and also transport of carbohydrate (produced through photosynthesis) from the stem down into the roots; – hormone production . root system functions anchorage The is above ground and consists of the stem, leaves and reproductive structures. It allows plants to reproduce and obtain food through photosynthesis. The of the shoot system include: – hotosynthesis; – reproduction; – storage of water and nutrients; – transport of water, food, and nutrients to all parts of the plant; – hormone production . shoot system functions 1 These two systems are connected by a vascular tissue that runs from the root through the shoot. DO What hormones do roots and shoots produce? 1 Reproductive structure Sexual reproductive parts include: , which consists of (little green leaves that cover the outside of a flower), male parts (the , consisting of the and the ), and female parts (the , consisting of the , the , and the containing the ovule) ; flower petals, sepals stamen anther filament pistil stigma style ovary 1 , which is the ripened ovary of a plant containing seeds. After fertilisation, the ovary and becomes either fleshy or hard and dry to protect the developing seeds; fruit swells , which is the structure that encloses the embryo of a plant in a protective outer covering. Under favourable conditions of growth, a seed gives rise to a new plant, using the nutrients stored in it. seed MORE Some flowers (perfect flowers) have both male and female reproductive organs; others (imperfect flowers) have only male parts or only female parts. Some plants have both male and female flowers (e.g. maize), while others have males on one plant and females on another (e.g. kiwis). 1