Plant organisation
The main roles of plant stems and roots are to transport substances around the plant. They have two types of transport systems – Narrow, hollow, dead tubes with lignin, responsible for the transport of water and minerals in plants. and The tissue in plants that transports the products of photosynthesis, including sugars and amino acids.. Xylem transports water and minerals. Phloem transports sugars and The building blocks that make up a protein molecule. dissolved in water.
These are distributed differently in roots and stems. In the root, the xylem forms a central column. It forms a solid support. The phloem is towards the centre, outside the xylem.
In the stem, the Types of tissue that transport water and nutrients. of the xylem and phloem are grouped into Groups of xylem and phloem tissue in a plant..
Any green part of a plant above ground, where it is exposed to light, can photosynthesise. But a plant’s leaves are the main organ of photosynthesis.
Plant leaves are adapted for gas exchange and photosynthesis.
| Feature | Function |
| Large surface area | For maximum absorption of light. For optimum absorption of carbon dioxide. |
| A thin, flattened blade - though there are exceptions | So that water and gases have a limited distance to diffuse. |
| Vascular tissue in the midrib and veins | Branches of the xylem, to transport water and minerals to the leaf. Branches of the phloem. To transport glucose and other products of photosynthesis to other parts of the plant. |
| Air spaces between cells within the leaf | For the diffusion of gases. |
| Feature | Large surface area |
|---|---|
| Function | For maximum absorption of light. For optimum absorption of carbon dioxide. |
| Feature | A thin, flattened blade - though there are exceptions |
|---|---|
| Function | So that water and gases have a limited distance to diffuse. |
| Feature | Vascular tissue in the midrib and veins |
|---|---|
| Function | Branches of the xylem, to transport water and minerals to the leaf. Branches of the phloem. To transport glucose and other products of photosynthesis to other parts of the plant. |
| Feature | Air spaces between cells within the leaf |
|---|---|
| Function | For the diffusion of gases. |
Learn more about plant organisation with Dr Alex Lathbridge.
Listen to the full series on BBC Sounds.
In this podcast, learn the key facts about plant organisation. Listen to the full series on BBC Sounds.