Plants in Our Surroundings – Our Green Friends

 

Look around you — in gardens, parks, fields, and even by the roadside, you will see many kinds of plants. Some are tall and strong like trees, while others are small and delicate. Plants make our surroundings green, beautiful, and full of life. They give us food to eat, oxygen to breathe, and shade to rest under. Without plants, life on Earth would not be possible.

Every plant, whether small or big, has different parts that perform special functions. Let us learn about the parts of a plant and how they help the plant to live and grow.

Parts of a Plant

A plant has several important parts. The main parts are:

1. Roots
2. Stem
3. Leaves
4. Flowers
5. Fruits
6. Seeds

Each part has its own special role to play in the life of the plant.

Roots and Their Functions

The root is the part of the plant that grows under the ground. If you pull out a small plant carefully, you will see the roots spreading in the soil. Roots are usually white or light brown in colour.

Functions of Roots:

1. Fixing the plant: Roots hold the plant firmly in the soil so that it does not get blown away by the wind or washed away by rain.
2. Absorbing water and minerals: Roots take in water and nutrients from the soil, which are needed by the plant to make food.
3. Storing food: In some plants like carrots, radishes, and beetroots, roots store extra food for the plant.

There are two main types of roots — tap roots and fibrous roots.

1. Tap roots have one main thick root with smaller roots growing from it. Example: carrot, mustard.
2. Fibrous roots have many thin roots that grow from the base of the stem. Example: grass, wheat.

Stem and Its Functions

The stem is the part of the plant that grows above the ground. It holds the plant upright and helps it stand tall.

Functions of the Stem:

1. Support: The stem supports the branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits.
2. Transport: The stem carries water and minerals from the roots to all parts of the plant. It also carries food made by the leaves to other parts.
3. Storage: In some plants like sugarcane and potato, the stem stores food.
4. Growth: The stem helps plants grow upward toward sunlight, which is important for making food.

You can see how strong the stem is in big trees like mango and banyan, while it is soft and green in small plants like spinach and money plant.

Leaf and Its Functions

Leaves are called the kitchen of the plant because they make food for the plant. Most leaves are green because they contain a green substance called chlorophyll.

Functions of Leaves:

1. Making food: Leaves prepare food for the plant with the help of sunlight, air (carbon dioxide), and water. This process is called photosynthesis.
2. Breathing: Leaves have tiny openings called stomata through which they take in air and give out oxygen.
3. Evaporation: Leaves lose extra water in the form of water vapour. This process is called transpiration.

If you look closely at a leaf, you will see veins. These veins carry water, minerals, and food to and from the leaf.

Flowers and Fruits

Flowers are the most beautiful part of the plant. They come in many colours, shapes, and sizes. Flowers make the plant look attractive and also help it to reproduce, or make new plants.

Functions of Flowers:

1. Flowers help in the formation of fruits and seeds.
2. Many flowers have a sweet smell and nectar which attract insects like bees and butterflies. These insects help in spreading pollen from one flower to another. This process is called pollination.

After pollination, the flower changes into a fruit. The fruit protects the seeds inside it. Some fruits like apples, mangoes, and oranges are fleshy, while others like nuts are dry.

Seeds

A seed is the part of a plant that can grow into a new plant. Seeds come in different shapes and sizes. If you cut open a bean seed, you will find three main parts:

1. Seed coat – the outer covering that protects the seed.
2. Cotyledons – store food for the baby plant.
3. Embryo – the tiny baby plant inside the seed.

Germination of Seeds

Germination is the process by which a seed grows into a new plant.

When a seed gets the right conditions — air, water, and warmth — it begins to grow. Let’s see what happens during germination:

1. The seed absorbs water and swells.
2. The outer seed coat breaks open.
3. A tiny root comes out first and grows downward into the soil.
4. Then a shoot comes out and grows upward toward sunlight.
5. Small leaves start appearing on the shoot.

This small new plant is called a seedling.
With proper sunlight, water, and air, the seedling grows into a healthy plant.

You can try an experiment at home:
Take a few soaked beans and place them on wet cotton or tissue paper. Keep them in a warm place. After a few days, you will see tiny roots and shoots coming out. This shows germination.

Care of Plants

Plants are living things. They need care just like we do. Here are some simple ways to take care of plants:

1. Water them regularly so that the roots get enough moisture.
2. Provide sunlight because plants need light to make food.
3. Keep the soil loose and clean to help air and water reach the roots easily.
4. Remove weeds that grow around plants because they take away nutrients.
5. Protect plants from insects and diseases.
6. Avoid plucking leaves and flowers unnecessarily so that the plant stays healthy.

When we take good care of plants, they grow strong and healthy and make our surroundings beautiful and full of life.

Exploring Plants: Parts, Functions, and Fun Activities

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. The part of the plant that absorbs water from the soil is
   a) Stem
   b) Leaf
   c) Root
   d) Flower

2. Which part of the plant makes food?
   a) Stem
   b) Leaf
   c) Flower
   d) Seed

3. Pollination helps in the formation of
   a) Roots
   b) Leaves
   c) Fruits and seeds
   d) Stems

4. Seeds grow into a new plant under the right conditions of
   a) Water, air, and warmth
   b) Cold and darkness
   c) Sand only
   d) Sunlight only

Answers:

1. c) Root
2. b) Leaf
3. c) Fruits and seeds
4. a) Water, air, and warmth

Section B: Fill in the Blanks

1. The stem carries __________ and __________ to different parts of the plant.
2. Leaves have tiny holes called __________.
3. The process by which a seed grows into a new plant is called __________.
4. Fruits protect the __________ inside them.

Answers:

1. water, food
2. stomata
3. germination
4. seeds

Section C: Name Any Two

1. Name any two plants with tap roots.
2. Name any two plants with fibrous roots.
3. Name any two fleshy fruits.
4. Name any two dry fruits.

Answers:

1. Carrot, mustard
2. Grass, wheat
3. Mango, apple
4. Cashew, coconut

Section D: True or False

1. The roots help the plant stand firmly in the soil.
2. Leaves do not make food for the plant.
3. Flowers help in reproduction.
4. Germination occurs only in the dark.

Answers:

1. True
2. False
3. True
4. False

Section E: Matching

Match the plant part with its function:

Plant Part	Function
1. Root	a) Makes food
2. Stem	b) Reproduction
3. Leaf	c) Support and transport
4. Flower	d) Absorbs water and minerals

Answers:
1 – d
2 – c
3 – a
4 – b

Section F: Answer the Questions

1. What are the main parts of a plant?
2. Why are leaves called the kitchen of the plant?
3. What is the function of flowers?
4. How do fruits help in seed dispersal?

Answers:

1. Roots, stem, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds
2. Leaves make food for the plant through photosynthesis
3. Flowers help in reproduction and formation of fruits and seeds
4. Fruits carry seeds and help them spread to new places through animals, wind, or water

Section G: Think and Answer

1. If a plant does not get sunlight, which part will be most affected and why?
2. Why should we water plants regularly?

Answers:

1. Leaves will be most affected because they need sunlight to make food for the plant.
2. Plants need water to absorb minerals from the soil and for making food, and to keep them healthy.

Section H: Label the Different Parts of the Plant

Draw a plant and label the root, stem, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds.

Answer: Teacher can guide students to draw a simple plant and label correctly.

Section I: Activity – Grow New Plants from Seeds

Take a few seeds like beans, soak them in water overnight, place them on wet cotton, and observe them for a few days. Record your observations of roots and shoots.

Section J: Make a Nature Album

Collect leaves, flowers, or seeds from different plants around your home or school. Paste them in a notebook and write the name of the plant, its type of root, and one interesting fact.

Section K: Life Skill

Plant a small sapling in a pot. Water it regularly, give it sunlight, and observe its growth. Write a few sentences on how taking care of a plant teaches responsibility.

Section L: Logical Thinking

1. Roots grow underground while stems grow above ground. Why do you think this is important?
   Answer: Roots grow underground to absorb water and hold the plant firmly, while stems grow above ground to support leaves, flowers, and fruits and to transport water and food.

2. Leaves fall off in autumn. How does this help the plant?
   Answer: Falling leaves reduce water loss and help the plant survive cold or dry conditions.

Section M: Odd One Out

1. Carrot, beetroot, radish, spinach
   Answer: Spinach (Spinach is leafy; the others are roots)

2. Mango, apple, cashew, banana
   Answer: Cashew (Cashew is a dry fruit; the others are fleshy fruits)

Section N: Integration Activity

Draw a chart showing a plant, its parts, and their functions. Use colours and labels to make it easy to understand.

Section O: Project

Observe a plant in your school or garden for one week. Note the changes in its leaves, flowers, and fruits. Write a short report with drawings.

Section P: Group Activity

Form groups of 4–5 students. Each group can:

1. Identify 5 plants around the school.
2. Classify them into trees, shrubs, herbs, or climbers.
3. Present their findings with drawings or charts.

Plants are our green friends. They give us food, oxygen, medicines, and shade. Every part of a plant has a special function that helps it live and grow. From the roots deep in the soil to the flowers and fruits we enjoy, each part plays an important role. We must learn to love and care for plants because they make our world a better place to live in.