2 Plants and their Parts

NCF Competencies Covered:

Expected Learning Outcomes C-1.3, C-4.1, C-6.1 and C-6.2

Knowledge to be gained : • Types of plants • Parts of plants

Skill to be developed : • Identifying the different parts of a plant.
Attitude to be inculcated : • We should plant as many trees as possible.
One day, all the parts of an apple tree started arguing with one another. Each part felt
that it is the most important organ of the plant. The argument went on like this:
Leaf : I cover all the branches. It is only because of me Leaf
that the tree looks green. I give shade as well.
Fruit Flower
Stem : No, I am the strongest part of the tree. I
transport water and nutrients to all parts of
the tree.
Flowers : Don't forget my beauty. People admire me a
lot. It is only me who can be used to decorate Stem
the houses, make perfumes, etc. Root
Fruit : Do you think, people will grow trees or plants
if they do not bear fruits? People grow trees to
relish their fruits. Parts of a plant
On hearing all these arguments, the root that was sleeping under the soil, raised its
head. Enough of your arguments! Do you think, you all can survive even for a day if I
do not supply water and minerals to you?
Teacher : Children, you must have understood that all parts are equally important
for the life of a plant.

TYPES OF PLANTS
There are mainly three types of plants.
They are:
1. Herbs: The small plants that have soft,
green and thin stems are called
herbs. For example, tulsi, mint, Tulsi Mint Coriander
coriander, etc. Herbs
17 Science-3
 2. Shrubs: Small to medium-sized plants with thick woody stems are called shrubs.
For example, rose, hibiscus, cotton, etc.

Rose Hibiscus Cotton

Shrubs
3. Trees: Tall and strong plants with thick, woody trunks are called trees. For
example, mango, peepal, neem, etc.

Mango Peepal Neem

Trees
CHECK YOURSELF
Tick (3) the correct option:
1. Which of the following is a herb?
(a) Mint (b) Rose (c) Hibiscus
2. Which of the following is a shrub?
(a) Tulsi (b) Coriander (c) Cotton
3. Which of the following parts of the plant absorbs water and minerals from the soil?
(a) Root (a) Stem (c) Leaf

PARTS OF A PLANT flower

leaf
A plant is made up of many parts. The
part of the plant above the soil is known Shoot fruit
as the shoot . The shoot has stem,
branches, leaves, buds, flowers and stem
fruits. The part of the plant below the
soil is known as the root.
root
Science-3 18
Parts of a plant
Root
The part of the plant that grows below the soil is known as the root. Roots are of two
types:
1. Taproot: The type of root that has one
main thick root in the middle and many
smaller branches arising from the central
root is called the taproot. For example, root
of mango, peas, rose, etc.
2. Fibrous roots: The type of root that has
many small roots growing from the end of a
Tap root Fibrous root stem is called the fibrous root . For
Types of roots example, root of grass, onion, paddy, etc.
Functions of a root:
1. The root holds the plant firmly in the soil. Big trees such as mangoes are able to
stand straight due to their deep and strong roots.
2. The root absorbs water and nutrients from the soil for the plant. These are used by
the plant for preparing its food.
3. Some roots store extra food and are eaten by us. For example, carrot, radish,
turnip, etc.

Stem
Stem is the main part of the shoot. It bears branches, leaves, buds, flowers and fruits.
Functions of a stem:
1. The stem connects all parts of the plant.
2. It helps the plant to stand straight above the ground.
3. It transports water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves. It also transports
prepared food from the leaves to the other parts of the plant.
4. Some stems store extra food prepared by the plants. For example, sugarcane,
potato, ginger, etc.

Sugarcane Potato Ginger

Stems that store food
19 Science-3
 Some plants have weak stems and cannot stand straight on their
own. They need support like a wall, a tree or a long stick to climb
up. Such plants are called climbers. For example, money plant,
grapevine, etc.
Some plants have even weaker
stems and cannot even climb. They
creep along the ground. They are
called creepers . For example,
watermelon, pumpkin, etc.
Climber plant Creeper plant

Leaf
Most plants have green leaves. They may be of different shapes and sizes.

Lotus leaf Peepal leaf Mango leaf Neem leaf Papaya leaf Banana leaf

Different types of leaves

Leaves are also known as the kitchen of the plant or food factory of the plant because
they prepare food for the plant. Most leaves are green in colour because they contain a
green pigment called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll helps the plant to absorb the
sunlight. The chlorophyll in the leaves traps the Sun's energy along with the carbon
dioxide from the air and water to make food.
Parts of a leaf
The flat and broad portion of a leaf is
Blade called the leaf blade. A thick line passing
through the centre of the leaf is called the
main vein . The side veins form a
Main vein network of small lines around the main
Side vein vein. The side veins transport water,
nutrients and food from one part of the
leaf to another. The underside of the leaf
Stomata has tiny holes. These holes are called
stomata. Plants breathe through the
Leaf structure
stomata.
Science-3 20
Functions of a leaf:
1. Leaves help the plant to breathe through their stomata.
2. Leaves prepare food for the plant. They make food for the plant with the help of
chlorophyll, carbon dioxide, water and sunlight. This process of making food is
called photosynthesis.
3. Leaves of some plants store extra food and are eaten by us. For example, spinach,
lettuce, cabbage, etc.
CHECK YOURSELF
Fill in the blanks:
1. The _______________ root has one main thick root in the middle and many smaller
branches arising from it.
2. The plants which creep on the ground are called _______________.
3. The flat, broad portion of a leaf is called the _______________.
4. The green pigment found in the leaves is called _______________.
5. The process by which plants make food is called _______________.

Flower
Flowers are the most colourful and the
most beautiful part of a plant. They
grow on plants to attract insects, bees,
butterflies, etc. They are of different Rose Lotus
colours, shapes, sizes and smells. Most
flowers have a sweet-smelling juice
called nectar. Insects, like honeybees
and butterflies, are attracted by the
smell of the nectar and feed on the
nectar of the flowers. Jasmine Dahlia
Flowers
Functions of a f lower:
1. Flowers grow into fruits.
2. Some flowers also store food in them.
For example, cauliflower, broccoli, etc.
Fruit Flower grows into fruit
Flowers grow into fruits. They have seeds in them.
1. Fruits with one seed : mango, pear, cherry, etc.
2. Fruits with few seeds : orange, apple, lemon, etc.
3. Fruits with many seeds : watermelon, muskmelon, papaya, etc.
21 Science-3
 Mango Apple Papaya
Fruits
Seeds of plants like wheat, rice, pulses and corn are eaten by us. They are edible
seeds. Seeds of papaya, apple, orange and lemon are not been eaten by us. They are
inedible seeds.
When fruits are eaten or when
they become dry, their seeds land
on the soil. When these seeds get
the right amount of air, water and
sunlight, they grow into new
plants. The process by which a
seed grows into a new plant is
called germination.
Germina on of a seed

NEW WORDS
Photosynthesis : The process by which green leaves prepare food with the help of
water, carbon dioxide and sunlight
Chlorophyll : The green pigment present in the leaves
Germina on : The process by which a seed grows into a new plant
Edible : Which can be eaten
Inedible : Which cannot be eaten

SUMMARY
v There are mainly three types of plants.
v The part of the plant above the soil is known as the shoot.
v Root holds the plant firmly in the soil.
v Stems are the main part of the shoot.
v Chlorophyll is a green pigment that helps the plant to absorb the sunlight.
v Stomata in the leaves help the plant to breathe.
v Flowers grow into fruits, which have seeds in them.
v The process by which a seed grows into a new plant is called germination.

Science-3 22
 Exercise
A. Tick (3) the correct option:
1. Seeds are found in the:
(a) root (b) stem
(c) fruits (d) flowers
2. Grass has a:
(a) tap root (b) fibrous root
(c) both (a) and (b) (d) none of them
3. The green pigment present in the leaves is called:
(a) leaf blade (b) main vein
(c) side vein (d) chlorophyll
4. The most attractive part of a plant is:
(a) root (b) stem
(c) flower (d) fruit

B. Match the following:

1. Leaf (a) colourful and beautiful part of a plant
2. Stem (b) has seeds in them
3. Flower (c) contains chlorophyll
4. Fruit (d) main part of the shoot

C. Label the parts of a leaf and a plant given below:

23 Science-3
 D. Give reasons:
1. Leaves are known as the ‘kitchen of the plant’.
2. Veins are very important parts of a leaf.

E. Answer the following questions in brief:

1. What are herbs?
2. What is shoot?
3. What is chlorophyll?
4. What is germination?
5. Name any five edible seeds.

F. Answer the following questions in detail:

1. What are the three types of plants?
2. Write the functions of the following parts of a plant:
root, stem, leaf, flower and fruit.
3. Differentiate between taproot and fibrous root.
4. How do plants make their food?
5. What do you understand by the term ‘germination’?

Activity Time

A. Can a seed germinate in a dark room? Give reasons to explain your answer.
B. Pull out a small
plant gently from
the soil. (Take help
from your teacher or
gardener.) Observe
its roots. Does it
have a taproot or a
fibrous root?
C. Collect different types of leaves. Observe their shapes, sizes and veins. Dry them
in the folds of old newspapers and paste them in your scrapbook.

Science-3 24
Be a Young Critical Thinking
Researcher
Let us do a similar experiment as we did in the previous chapter, but a little
differently.
With the help of your elders, place a potted plant in a dark room. This time, open a
window slightly so that some sunlight can enter the room. The potted plant should
not be kept very far away from the window. Keep watering the plant daily. Check the
plant every two days for a month, and note down your observations. After a month,
does the plant seem to be bent towards the window? Discuss your findings with your
teacher.
Prepare a report by listing all your observations in your notebook.

NCF C-4.1, C-6.2 Collaboration

Let Us Visit
Along with your friends, visit your school garden. Observe the different types of
plants and trees grown there. Try to identify their types (whether they are herbs,
shrubs, trees, climbers or creepers). Also, try to find out the names of these plants.
Draw pictures of different types of plants and show them to your teacher.

Subject Link : Social Studies NCF C-6.1

In this chapter, you have learnt that the seeds of

some plants like wheat, rice, corn, pulses, etc.,
are eaten by us. They are called edible seeds.
These seeds form a part of our diet. When these
plants are grown in large amounts on a farm,
they are called crops. Different crops require
different types of soil and climate to grow. As
different parts of our country have different
varieties of soil, many types of crops are grown
in our country.
Find out which crops are grown in your state. Also, find out the different
types of crops grown in other states of the country.

FOOTNOTE
® The teacher should give a detailed description of exercise of different parts of plants. He should also explain the
function of each part.
25 Science-3