NCERT Solutions for Class 4 EVS Chapter 19

Abdul was helping his father in clearing the dried leaves and grass from the vegetable beds as a layer of dead leaves can invite pests and diseases, preventing the nutrients from reaching and keeping the grass healthy.

Roots of the grass are fibrous in nature. They spread widely under the surface of the ground and hold the soil particles tightly. Thus Abdul found it difficult to pull them out.

Pea plant has tap roots because they have a single thick root with lateral branches which grow deep in the soil.

Tap root is a thick root or one main primary root which grows straight into the ground with many small roots sprouting laterally. The main function of taproot is to absorb water and minerals to the plant. Example carrot and radish are edible taproots.

There is no main root, rather a group of equal sized roots are attached to the end of the stem It usually does not go very deep into the soil. Wheat, rice, grass, corn etc. are plants with fibrous roots.

A seed contain baby plants which can grow into a new plant under favourable conditions of water, warmth, air and soil. There can be any number of seeds in a fruit. Some fruits like mango and cherry have only one seed. Others like papaya and watermelon have many seeds in them.

The process in which a plant emerges from a seed and begins growth is called germination. During the early stages of germination, the seedling gets the food required for its growth from the cotyledons. The seedling gets its food from the food stored inside the cotyledons (seed leaves). Thus, germination is the process of seeds developing into new plants.

The outer covering of a seed is called the seed coat. Seed coats help protect the embryo from injury and also from drying out. It also protects the seed which is inside it from the attack of bacteria and fungi and even insects.

The plant embryo, also called the seed embryo, is the part of a seed or bud that contains the earliest forms of a plant’s roots, stem and leaves. The embryo develops into a young plant after a fertilized adult plant flowers, and is generally contained within a seed or bud.

The primary root, or radicle, is the first organ that appears when a seed germinates. It grows downward into the soil, anchoring the seedling.It is responsible for holding the plant in the soil.

The plumule is the part of a seed embryo that develops into the shoot bearing the first true leaves of a plant. It grows upwards and develops into stem, branches, leaves, buds, flowers and fruits.

Roots is the part of the plant that grows below the ground and play a very important role in the plant growth as they absorb water and nutrients from the soil. They anchor the plant firmly. They help in storing food and nutrients. Roots transport water and minerals to the plant.

Along with the underground roots, Banyan tree also has hanging prop roots that start in its branches and grow towards the ground. They help to support the long branches of the Banyan tree.

The area around the roadside should not be cemented as the rain water will not be able to seep into the ground through cement and thus, water level will be reduced. The trees will be unable to get proper amount of water in such an area.

The desert oak is a slow-growing tree found in deep sands. Desert oak is a tree that is found in Australia. It has very few leaves. It grows almost as tall as a wall. Their roots go deep into the ground till they reach water. This water is stored in the tree trunk. When there was no water in the desert, the local people use to put a thin pipe into the trunk of the tree, to drink this water.

A cactus is able to survive in the desert due its long roots that go deep inside the soil for absorbing water. Its leaves are in the form of spines to prevent water loss through transpiration. Because it has no leaves, it doesn’t give up its water through evaporation as easily as other plants. Its stems are thick with a lot of room for storing water, and with a protective covering that keeps the stored water inside.