Plants and their parts

Every part of a plant has a job to do.

A sunflower plant: you can see its stem, leaves and big flower. Its roots are hidden in the soil.

A plant is a living thing

Plants are living things, just like animals. Most plants have four main parts: roots, a stem, leaves and flowers. Each part has its own job. Together they keep the plant alive.

Some plants are tiny, like moss on a wall. Others are huge, like the banyan trees in our villages. They still have the same kinds of parts.

Roots

Roots grow down into the soil. They hold the plant firmly so that wind and rain cannot pull it out. Roots take in water and minerals from the soil.

We eat some roots! Carrots, radishes (mula) and sweet potatoes are roots that store food for the plant.

Stems and leaves

The stem holds the leaves and flowers up towards the light. Inside the stem are tiny tubes that carry water from the roots to the leaves. Leaves use sunlight, air and water to make food for the plant.

A tree trunk is a very thick, strong stem. Bamboo stems are hollow, which makes them light but strong.

Flowers, fruits and seeds

Flowers make seeds. After the flower dies, a fruit often grows around the seeds to protect them. A seed can grow into a new plant.

Mangoes, jackfruits and tomatoes are all fruits, because they have seeds inside. Some animals eat fruits and drop the seeds far away, so new plants can grow in new places.

What I learnt

I can name the parts of a flowering plant.
I can describe the job of the roots, stem, leaves and flowers.