Roots Flashcards
What is the tap root also called?
It is also called the primary root
What do tap roots consist of?
They consist of a main root that develops from the radicle
What is a radicle?
The initial root that emerged from the seed
Where do lateral or secondary roots emerge from?
They emerge from the primary root
What do the tips of the lateral roots have?
They have tiny, invisible root hairs
In what types of plants are tap roots present? Give examples
Tap roots are present in most dicotyledons (dicots), e.g. dandelion, wallflower and ash
Name the three types of roots
Tap roots, fibrous roots, adventitious roots
When do fibrous roots form?
They form when the radicle dies away to leave a group of equal-sized roots. These roots emerge from the base of the stem.
In what type of plants are fibrous roots most common? Give examples
In monocotyledons (monocots), e.g. grasses and daffodils
How are adventitious roots different from tap roots?
Adventitious roots are roots that do not develop from the radicle.
Give examples of adventitious roots
Examples include fibrous roots, the roots at the base of an onion and the gripping roots of ivy.
List the four functions of roots
- Anchor the plant in the soil.
- Absorb water and mineral salts from the soil.
- Transport absorbed materials to the shoots.
- Store food in some plants, e.g. carrots, turnips, radish
What part of a plant absorbs water and mineral salts from the soil?
the root hairs carry out this function
List the four zones in a root in order
- Zone of protection
- Zones of cell production/meristematic zone
- Zone of elongation
- Zone of differentiation
Explain the zone of protection
The root cap protects the root cells as they push through the soil.
Explain the zone of cell production
zone of cell production/meristematic zone:
Meristems allow plants to grow.
Where are apical meristems found?
Apical meristems are found in the root tip and in the shoot tip.
Where can other meristems (discluding apical meristems) be found?
Other meristems are found around the edge of some plant stems and in leaves and fruits.
What is happening to cells in the root meristem constantly?
Cells in the root meristem are constantly dividing by mitosis to produce new cells for root growth.
Define a meristem
A meristem is a plant tissue capable of mitosis
What can the second zone in a root be called other than the zone of cell production?
the meristematic zone
Explain the zone of elongation
When new cells are formed by the meristem they are very small.
In the zone of elongation, plant growth regulators (such as auxins) stimulate the cells to grow longer.
Give one example of a plant growth regulator?
auxins
Explain the zone of differentiation
In this region, the elongated cells, which are all similar or undifferentiated, develop into different types of tissues, e.g. dermal tissue, vascular tissue, ground tissue
Give an example of dermal tissue and where it can be found
Epidermis which surrounds and protects the plant
Give examples of vascular tissue and what it does
Xylem and phloem: which transports materials
Give an example of where ground tissue can be found in a plant
It is found between the dermal and vascular tissues
What do herbaceous plants not contain that woody plants do?
Herbaceous plants do not contain wood (or lignin)
