Plant Part	structure and definitions	function/ examples	use
root	contains xylem and phloem; epidermis, parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma. apical meristem located at the tip   root cap protects ends root hairs increase surface area tap root: one main root with small roots extending out (ex: carrot)   fibrous root: all roots approximately the same diameter	absorbs nutrients and water; anchors plant; stores food; conducts materials to the stem.	food
stem	contains xylem and phloem; epidermis, parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma. apical meristem located at the tip   stolon: horizontal underground stem that extends to spread plants.	supports leaves, flowers; transports materials between the roots and leaves; storage; photosynthesis; underground storage (potato tubers)	wood (an accumulation of xylem); food
leaf	contains xylem, phloem; epidermis; waxy cuticle; parenchyma, collenchyma, sclerenchyma; palisade and spongy mesophyll; stomata (openings in the underside of the leaf used in gas exchange)	photosynthesis food storage (onions)	food; spices; oils; waxes; fibers; drugs; insecticides
flower	four whorls: calyx made of sepals; used for protection. corolla made of petals; attracts pollinators. androecium made of stamens (anther and filament); produces pollen grains. gynoecium made of pistil (stigma, style, and ovary); produces egg.	functions in sexual reproduction of angiosperms	decoration; food
fruit	ripened ovary or receptacle endocarp, mesocarp, and exocarp	protects seed; disperses seed	food
seed	cotyledon (embryonic seed leaf): epicotyl; hypocotyl; radicle; seed coat	protects and feeds plant embryo	food
cone	scales and seeds	reproductive organ of conifers	food; decoration
parenchyma	basic unspecialized plant tissue	stores food	food (apples made of mostly parenchyma tissue)
collenchyma	living tissue with thick cell walls	provides flexible support in young plants, leaves	food (celery is primarily collenchyma tissue)
sclerenchyma	tissue with thickened walls; dead at maturity	rigid support	fibers; rope; jute gives pears gritty texture
cambium	tissue that is primarily responsible for secondary growth of plants   vascular cambium: thin branching cylinder that produces xylem and phloem   cork cambium: found outside the vascular cambium; produces cork tissue (bark) in woody dicots.	produces secondary growth in dicots and gymnosperms	produces bark and xylem; useful as food and building materials
meristem	tissues in which cells actually divide   apical meristem: found at or near the tips of roots and shoots   lateral meristems; produce growth from the sides of plants   intercalary meristems: tissue at intervals of grasses that produce increases in the length of stems.	apical meristems increase the length of roots and shoots	pinching off apical meristems causes lateral growth (bushing)
xylem	vessels: long tubes made up of individual vessel elements   vessel elements: cells that are open at the ends with barlike strips across open areas. lacking in conifers.   tracheids: tapered cells that overlap with other tracheids. contain pits to connect with other cells for lateral conduction.	conducts water and dissolved substances throughout the plant; cells are dead at maturity   xylem becomes plugged in trees; produces wood	used as building materials (wood)
phloem	sieve tube elements: walls at the ends of cells have small pores (sieve plates). living at maturity but contain no nuclei   companion cells: form a close relationship with sieve tube elements to aid in conduction.	conducts dissolved food elements	produces bark of trees
non-vascular plants	contain no vessels spore-bearing plants	examples: moss, liverworts. need water to reproduce.	ground cover
ferns	vascular spore bearing plants   frond: leaf fiddlehead: new uncurled leaf rhizome: horizontal underground stem	need water to reproduce.	ornamental
gymnosperms	needle or scale-like leaves   pollen cone: male ovate cone: female   gymnosperm: naked seed	examples: conifers (pine, spruce, fir); juniper, arbor vitae	food; building materials (soft woods missing fibers and vessel elements)
monocots	angiosperm with one cotyledon   parallel leaf venation   flower parts in multiples of threes   vascular bundles are scattered   no vascular cambium   fibrous root system   do not produce woody tissues	examples: iris, lily, daffodil, corn, grass	food; major grains
dicots	angiosperm with two cotyledons   net venation in leaves   flower parts in fours or fives   vascular bundles in rings   vascular cambium present   tap root system   may produce wood and bark	examples: rose, trees, cucumber	building materials (hardwoods contain tracheids and vessel elements); food
alternation of generations	reproductive life cycle of a plant (and most algae)   fertilization: union of sperm and egg   pollination: bringing pollen to site of egg   meiosis in plants produces spores   meiosis in animals produces gametes   sporophyte generation: diploid generation of a plant; produces spores   gametophyte generation: haploid generation of a plant; produces gametes	flowers are the sporophyte generation and contain the gametophyte generation inside the pistil and anther	produces new plants
fertilization	cross-fertilization: sperm from one plant fertilize the egg of another plant of the same species   self-fertilization: sperm from a plant fertilize the plant’s own eggs	advantages of cross-fertilization: genetic variability   disadvantages of cross-fertilization: must have two plants close together   advantages of self-fertilization: only one plant necessary   disadvantages of self-fertilization: no genetic variation; may not occur without assistance	produces new plants
vegetative propagation	grafting: permanent union of two parts of two plants   cutting: piece of a plant that is induced to produce roots and are then planted to grow on its own   callus: clump of undifferentiated tissue that forms over a wound in a plant	strawberries   Granny Smith apples   sweet potatoes	produces new plants that might not otherwise be available; allows for new breeds (strawberries, Granny Smith apples)