Thursday, February 3, 2022
What is plant classification and taxonomy?
Plants are one of the two largest Kingdoms of living things named Kingdom Plantae. This plant kingdom has inhabited the earth for millions of years ago, or since the earth was formed. According to several studies, what was first formed was a plant that was still in the form of moss on land or algae in water. After that, several types of plants appeared, which varied in number, and formed a Giant Kingdom (in terms of biology). It was only then that several types of animals such as fish, or those with one cell appeared, until then various types began to appear on the surface. In one of the theories of evolution states that all come from one kind, then from one type appear the next several types. One study also states that all living things, both plants and animals, do not incidentally originate from one type or ancestor, but have different types and ancestors. Apart from all that, we know that the inhabitants of this earth, from anatomy, only have the two largest and most widespread types of living things, namely, Plants and Animals. However, here we will discuss specific groups of living things in the Plant Kingdom, regarding only plant anatomy, or only plant parts.
Read : The Animal Classification
Plants generally consist of 5 (five) major parts, namely:
- Roots
- Stem
- Leaves
- Flowers
- Fruit
Plants with their parts have different functions. Even though they are different, the functions of these parts are related to each other, so that plants can survive and reproduce continuously.
There are also plants that do not flower throughout their lives. For example: suplir, mushrooms, and others, while there are many kinds of flowering plants, for example: roses, jasmine, mango trees, and so on. Here's a short review:
A. ROOTS
Roots are a very important part of a plant, or it can be said to be the soul of a plant, because without roots a plant cannot live. Apart from being a place for access to the entry of food nutrients from the soil, it is also a reinforcement for the uprightness of these plants. The roots usually creep beneath the surface of the soil. However, there are also roots that hang or stick out of the ground.
The root has several uses. Among others are:
- As a place to absorb water and nutrients from the soil
- As a place to erect plant stems
- As a place to store food supplies or reserves for plants
Roots absorb water and nutrients containing mineral salts or natural or artificial fertilizers. The root cap is very dominant in doing all of this, besides functioning to penetrate the depth of the soil, for the reach of these roots to develop.
Plants develop initially through seeds, also the first thing that grows and appears is the root first, to find a place to enter food in the soil and a place to stand later. Only then is followed by the elongation of the stem and the growth of the first leaves, which then permanently the plant will continue to grow where the roots originally stood.
In addition, when plants become mature plants and have undergone photosynthesis to make their own food, some plants store food reserves in their roots. As in root crops, beans, potatoes, carrots, and others.
Plants in general have roots that can be divided into 2 (two) parts based on the seeds or seed pieces, namely:
1. ROOTED PLANT
Plants with taproots are usually plants that have two pieces of seeds (dicots). Another feature of this plant is that it has a stem with many branches, finger-like leaves, and the seeds on the fruit have two pieces. When at the stage of planting seeds, usually the roots appear between the pieces of the seeds, as well as the stems emerging from the seeds that are soaring up. Usually plants that have taproots are stronger than fibrous roots, and underground water storage in these taproot plants is stored much longer, also the condition of the soil is always moist and the temperature is cool even though it's the dry season. Examples of plants with taproots are mango, durian, rambutan, and others.
2. FIBER ROOTED PLANT
Fibrous-rooted plants are usually plants that have single seed pieces (monocots). The characteristics of this plant are that it has unbranched stems, pinnate leaves, and the seeds in the fruit have only one chip. When at the stage of planting seeds, usually the roots appear between one end of the seeds, as well as the stems directly together from the tip of the soaring seed. Usually plants that have fibrous roots are not that strong and absorb a lot of water, so the soil around them tends to dry out during the dry season and when the temperature is hot because the roots are not able to store much water, they tend to run out. Examples of plants with fibrous roots are palm trees, dates, coconut, areca nut, corn, and others.
Root consists of:
- Root Cap
- Root Feathers
- Root Base
- Root Edge
- Root Stem
- Root Branch
The root cap functions as a Root Tip Protector. Because of that, on Hood Root it's always slimy. This is to make it easier for the roots to penetrate the soil. Root hairs are useful as water suckers and food extracts from the soil. While the base of the root as a place to grow roots as well as stems. Root tips are useful for penetrating the soil in search of water and nutrients in the soil. Root stem as a place for the growth of new root branches. Root branches are useful for the forerunners of new roots which will be able to absorb more water and nutrients, while root fibers are only found in fibrous roots.
Read : The Photosynthesis
B. STEM
The stem is the part of the plant that is above the ground. The stem is also where the growth of Twigs, Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit. There are stems that have branches and those that do not have branches.
In general, plant stems are useful as:
- The place where the leaves are attached
- A place for transporting water and nutrients (nutrients) from the roots to the leaves
- A place to store food reserves
- Supports and strengthens the plant
- Propagation tools, such as cuttings, grafting, and others.
There are various kinds of plant stems. Some have soft stems, such as: in vegetable plants. There are also those with wooden trunks, such as mango trees, teak trees, rambutan trees, durian trees, and others. In woody plants there is a cambium. The growth of Kambiun is what makes the wood grow bigger. Then in the stem there are 2 (two) vessels, namely: wooden vessels (xylem) and filter vessels (phloem). The wooden vessels (xylem) function to transport water and nutrients or minerals from the soil through the roots throughout the plant body, while the filter vessels (phloem) function to transport the results of photosynthesis in the leaves throughout the plant body. On this stem branches and twigs grow, then leaves. Sometimes in some plants the leaves grow directly on the stem, such as in cassava plants. In addition, in some plants, the stem is a place to store food reserves, such as in the sago tree. The stem is also a breeding tool. For example, in cassava plants, all we have to do is stick the cassava stems into the ground, then the plants will start growing from these stems.
C. LEAVES
The leaves are usually green. This is because the leaves contain a green substance or chlorophyll. Leaves have various shapes. There are fingers and there are pinnate, and others. Some plants are also leafless. As in mushrooms or mushrooms. Leaves are also used as a breeding tool, such as in the Cocor Bebek plant. However, even though the shape is different, the leaves have the same function, namely: as a place to make plant food.
Plant leaves are where the food-making process in plants is called photosynthesis. In the process of photosynthesis, plants also need carbon dioxide gas (CO2) from the air. This gas enters through small holes at the bottom of the leaves. These tiny holes are called stomata (leaf openings). After the process of photosynthesis is complete, the resulting food is circulated to all parts of the plant.
Some plants shed their leaves to survive the dry season when there is no water, namely teak trees. This happens because to avoid excessive evaporation of water in these plants through the leaves. On the other hand, there are also some plants that have wide leaves like the water hyacinth plant. This happens so that water evaporation can take place quickly, considering that the environment where water hyacinth lives is above the water, besides that the wide leaves are useful so that the plant can grow. floats on the water.
D. FLOWER
Flowers are one part of a plant that functions as a means of reproduction. In flowers there are plant genitals. The genitals are called stamens (male genitalia) and stamens (female genitalia). When pollen sticks to the pistil, pollination occurs. From this process will produce fruit. The seeds from the fruit will later be planted to multiply offspring.
Plant flowers consist of:
- Flower stalk
- Flower base
- Flower petals
- Flower Crown
- Pistil
- Stamens
The flower stalk is the beginning of the flower itself. The flower stalk serves as a place for the flower to grow and stand upright. After that the base of the flower becomes the next part, then the flower petals which are shaped like leaves and are green in color. Above the flower petals there is a flower crown which is also a flower decoration and is colorful to attract insects to land to carry out the pollination process. Then the stamens (male genitalia) that are touched by insects fall to the stigma (female genitalia) so that the process of reproduction occurs in flowers which will later become seeds and covered with fruit as the next generation of plants.
E. FRUIT
Fruit comes from Flowers. However, not all flowers become fruit. The function of the fruit is as a place for food reserves, so that the fruit can be utilized by humans and animals in fulfilling the nutritional sources and vitamins contained in the fruit.
The fruit consists of several parts, including:
- Fruit seed
- Flesh of fruit
- Rind
Fruit seeds are where new plants will grow. The new plant will be called the institution. From this institution, shoots will grow which will later become plants. Then the seeds will be covered with fruit flesh, which is a food reserve from the results of photosynthesis. Then the fruit flesh is covered by fruit skin, which is useful for protecting the fruit.
Plants are learning Science and Biology at school. Hopefully this is useful and becomes a learning reference and adds insight related to plants.
Read : Water