Class 3 Science Chapter 2 Parts of a Plants

Plants are living things like animals. We have many body parts. Similarly, plants also have many parts which have their own different functions. A plant has two main parts:
1. Root
2. shoot

The part of a plant that remains under the ground is called root. It is white or light brown in colour. It keeps the plant firm in the soil. There are two types of root:
1. Tap root
2. Fibrous root.

A tap root is a main root from which many small roots grow out. Roots of carrot, radish, bean, mustard and cotton are the examples of tap roots.

When a number of roots grow from the end of the stem, it is called a fibrous root. Roots of wheat, rice, grass and onion etc. are the examples of fibrous roots.

1. The root fixes the plant in the soil.
2. The root absorbs water and mineral from the soil for plants.
3. The roots of some plants store food. They are swollen. For example, the roots of carrots, radish and beetroot have thick and swollen roots.

The shoot bears branches, leaves, buds, flowers and fruits. Let us study about these parts one by one.

The stem of a plant remains above the ground. Some plants have thick and woody stems. Some plants have weak stems. Trees have thick and woody stems. The stem bears branches, leaves, buds, flowers and fruits.

1. The stem gives support to the branches of the plant.
2. It also carries water to the leaves. It takes water and salt from the roots and carries them to the leaves.
3. It also carries the food made by the leaves to different parts of the plant. Shrubs have thin and woody stem.
4. Many plants store their extra food in the stems. We eat such stems. Potato, ginger and sugarcane are the examples of such plants.

Most of the plants bear leaves. Leaves are usually green in colour due to presence of a green substance called chlorophyll.

A leaf has the following parts:
1. Leaf blade or lamina
2. Main vein
3. Side vein

1. Leaves make food for the plants with the help of water, air and sunlight. This process is called photosynthesis.
2. They also help in breathing.
3. Plants give out extra water through the leaves.

Flower is the most beautiful part of the plant. It appears as a bud. The bud changes into the fully grown part which later changes into fruit. Flowers are also of different shapes, sizes, colours and smell.

Fruits are the eatable parts of the plants. Some fruits are juicy like grapes, watermelon, orange, etc. Some fruits are fleshy like mango, apple, pear, etc. Most of the fruits have one or more seeds inside them. Seeds grow into new plants. Seeds have baby plants inside them. They also have food for the baby plants. When the seeds get air, water and warmth, they grow into new plants. The growing of a seed into a new plant is called germination.

1. A plant has two main parts– root and shoot.
2. The part of a plant that remains under the ground is called root.
3. The root fixes the plant in the soil and provides water and minerals to the plant.
4. The stem of a plant remains above the ground.
5. The stem gives support to the branches of the plant.
6. We generally recognise a plant through its leaves.
7. Leaves make food for the plant.
8. A seed has a baby plant inside it.

1. Small pores on the leaves called ________.
2. ________are the most beautiful parts of the plants.
3. The ______ bears the branches, leaves and buds.
4. The ______ is the backbone of the plant.
5. Leaves are usually ______ in colour.

Answers:
1. stomata
2. flower
3. stem
4. stem
5. green

Leaves look green due to the presence of chlorophyll.

The growing of a seed into a new plant is called germination.

The main difference between root system and shoot system is that the root system consists of roots, tubers, and rhizoids of the plant whereas the shoot system consists of leaves, buds, flowers, and fruits of the plant. Furthermore, Root system occurs in the ground while shoot system occurs on the ground.