How plants grow and why we cannot live without them
A plant has different parts, each with a job. Roots hold the plant in the soil and take in water and minerals. The stem holds up the plant and carries water to the leaves. Leaves make food for the plant using sunlight, air and water; this is called photosynthesis, and the green colour comes from chlorophyll. Flowers make seeds, and seeds grow into new plants. Plants need sunlight, water, air and good soil to grow well.
Plants are grouped by size and stem: herbs are small with soft stems, like mint; shrubs are medium-sized with woody stems, like rose; and trees are tall with thick trunks, like mango. Climbers, like money plant, need support, and creepers, like pumpkin, spread on the ground. Plants have adaptations for their habitats. Cactus stores water in its thick stem and has spines instead of leaves to reduce water loss, lotus has floating leaves, and pine trees have needle-shaped leaves that let snow slide off.
Why it matters
Plants give us food, oxygen, wood, cotton, medicines and shade, and they are homes for many animals. Trees cool our cities, hold soil in place and prevent floods. Learning how plants grow helps us take care of school gardens and understand why cutting forests harms the environment. This leads to the study of plant parts and photosynthesis later.
Key terms
- Photosynthesis
- The way green leaves make food using sunlight, water and air.
- Root
- The part of a plant that holds it in the soil and absorbs water.
- Shrub
- A medium-sized plant with a hard, woody stem and many branches near the ground.
- Adaptation
- A special feature that helps a plant survive in its habitat.