P4 Plant System (Concept Map)
Primary 4 Science — Concept Map
Created by Miss Clarissa Ng · www.clartutors.com
Plant parts and what each one does
Leaf, stem and root — three parts, three jobs, and the plant needs all of them
Leaf traps light to make food · stem holds the plant up · root anchors it and takes in water and mineral salts.
Water and mineral salts enter through the roots; the food is made in the leaves.
Leaves differ in shape, edge, vein pattern, colour and texture — that is how plants are told apart.
Without leaves there is no food; without roots there is no water and no anchorage; without a stem the plant cannot stay upright.
Leaves
Trap lightleaves trap light to make food for the plant
Broad and flatthe flat blade gives the leaf more surface to trap more light
Veins and stalkveins branch out from the stalk and give the leaf its shape and support
Tiny openingsopenings mostly on the underside allow gaseous exchange to occur
Stems
Holds the plant upkeeps the plant upright and holds the leaves up where the light is
Soft or woodysome stems are soft and green, while others are woody and hard
Climbing stemsplants such as the morning glory use their stems to climb up a support to trap more light to make more food
Storage stemsstems such as the potato and ginger store food for the plant
Roots
Anchors the plantholds the plant firmly to the ground so it does not topple in the wind
Takes in waterabsorbs water and mineral salts from the soil
Water for the leavesthe leaves need that water to make food, and mineral salts to stay healthy
Stores foodsome roots, such as the carrot, radish and sweet potato, store food for the plant
Leaves are not all alike
Shape and edgeleaves differ in shape (heart, oval, palm, lance) and in edge (smooth, jagged, lobed, wavy)
Vein patterna leaf has either a net vein pattern or a parallel vein pattern
Colour and texturemost leaves are green but some are red or purple, and a leaf can feel waxy, hairy or smooth
The parts work together
Every part has a joba plant needs every part — each does one thing the others cannot
No leaveswithout leaves the plant cannot make food
No rootswithout roots the plant cannot take in water or stay in the soil
No stemwithout a stem the plant cannot stay upright