PLANT AND ANIMAL CLASSIFICATION - InMotion Hosting

Dr. Homi Bhabha Competition Test Series

Strictly for Private Circulationwww.homibhabhacompetition.com

PLANT AND ANIMAL CLASSIFICATION

Plants are living organisms such as trees, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns,

mosses, and green algae. They provide us with food materials, wood and also

convert carbon monoxide into life giving oxygen. They are composed of many parts

such as roots, stem, leaves, buds, flowers, fruits

Parts of Plant:

The Leaf

Leaves contain many cells with chloroplasts. Leaves are often broad so that they have a large surface area to absorb sunlight. Broader leaves enable more sunlight to be absorbed.

Leaves provide trees with all their food because they turn sunlight into food energy through photosynthesis. Leaves also make the oxygen in the air that we breathe. Leaves are thin and flat, they maximize the surface area that is directly exposed to light and promotes photosynthesis.

Based on the divisions of the blade two basic forms of leaves can be described. They are simple leaf and compound leaf.



Adaption of leaf Purpose

Thin Short distance for carbon dioxide to diffuse into the leaf

Contains chlorophyll and other pigments

To absorb light from different parts of the Sun's spectrum

Network of vascular bundles (veins) To support the leaf, and to transport water and carbohydrates

Stomata Allow carbon dioxide to diffuse into the leaf

Guard cells To open and close the stomata depending on the conditions



The stem

The stem is the upper part of the plant and bears branches, leaves, flowers and fruits. Stem is generally green when young and later often become woody and dark brown. It conducts water and minerals from the root to the leaves. Some stems perform the function of storage of food for example potato, ginger, turmeric.

Stems are a part of the shoot system of a plant. They may range in length from a few millimeters to hundreds of meters. They also vary in diameter, depending on the plant type. Stems are usually above ground, although the stems of some plants, such as the potato, also grow underground.

Their main function is to provide support to the plant, holding leaves, flowers, and buds.

The stem of the plant connects the roots to the leaves, helping to transport absorbed water and minerals to different parts of the plant.

The stem also helps to transport the products of photosynthesis (i.e., sugars) from the leaves to the rest of the plant.

Plant stems, whether above or below ground, are characterized by the presence of nodes and internodes . Nodes are points of attachment for leaves, aerial roots, and flowers.

The stem region between two nodes is called an internodes.



The Root

What is a Root System?

Inside your own body, you have organs that you need to survive, such as your heart, lungs and kidneys to name a few. Inside a plant, the root system is considered an organ. A plant needs its roots in order to survive.

The root system of a plant is typically found underground and has many different jobs. One of the main jobs of the root system is to anchor and support the plant in the soil. Other main jobs are absorbing the water, oxygen, and other nutrients from the soil and then transporting these things to the stem.

The first root that comes from a plant is called the radical.

A root's four major functions are 1) absorption of water and inorganic nutrients, 2) anchoring of the plant body to the ground, and supporting it, 3) storage of food and nutrients, 4) vegetative reproduction and competition with other plants.

Types of Root Systems

There are two different types of root systems and both have the same functions.

A tap root system is a system of roots that goes down deep into the ground and can be found in flowers, plants and trees. If you picked a flower for someone special, it was most likely a tap root system attached below the stem.

A main root, called the tap root, grows downward. Smaller roots then grow out horizontally from the tap root and eventually turn downward into the soil.

A fibrous root system can be found in plants such as grasses, lilies and palm

trees. The roots grow outward and downward directly from the stem.



The Flower:

Flowers generally are the showiest part of a plant. Their beauty and fragrance

attract pollinators (insects or birds) that play an important role in the reproductive

process.

Flowering plants produce seeds within a fruit. The scientific name for flowering

plants is angiosperms.

The main structures of a flower include:

Sepal - The sepal is a support structure for the petal. It is typically green and helps to protect

and hold up the petal. All the sepals together are called the calyx.

Petal - The petals are the bright colorful leaves of the flower. The petals are often bright and

colorful in order to attract insects that help with pollination. All of the petals together are

called the corolla.

Stamen - The stamen is the part of the flower that produces pollen. There are two main parts

of the stamen: the filament and anther.

Filament - The filament is the stalk that holds the anther.

Anther - The anther is made up of lobes that attach to the filament. These lobes hold sacs

which contain pollen.

Pistil - The pistil is the female part of the flower. It contains the carpel and the stigma.

Stigma - The stigma is the area where pollen is received. The stigma may be located at the

end of a stalk called the style.

Carpel - The carpel is the ovary of the flower and contains ovules which are potential seeds.



The Fruit :

Fruits are a way which many plants spread their seeds. Fruits are formed after the

flower is fertilized with pollen. The ovules in the pistil will become seeds and the

flower will transform into a fruit

When you think of fruit, you probably think of something sweet and juicy to eat.

Apples, berries and oranges are all fruit. But scientists think of fruit as a part of

a plant that contains seeds. The fruit might not be sweet. In fact, it might not be

edible at all. But it’s still a fruit.

Fruit is usually soft and juicy, but not always. Sometimes it’s covered by a hard,

protective shell. Think about a watermelon, for instance. It is soft and juicy on the

inside, but the outside is tough. Walnuts and other nuts are technically a fruit even

though they are very hard.

Think of all the fruits and vegetables you eat. Are any of the vegetables you eat

really fruit? How about tomatoes, peppers or green beans? They all have seeds and

are all fruit. Pumpkins, squash, and cucumbers are also fruit.

Some fruit, such as pomegranates, have tough, leathery skins.

Raspberries and blackberries are called aggregate fruit. They are made up of

hundreds of little fruits. Each one contains a seed.



Plant Classification

Plants can be classified on the basis of their height, stem and branches. On these

parameters, plants can be of three types, viz. herbs, shrubs and tree.

Herbs: Herbs are small plants which have soft stem. Examples: Wheat, paddy,

cabbage, grass, coriander, etc.



Shrubs: These are bushy and medium- sized plants plant and they are

somewhat bigger than herbs. Their branches start from just above the

ground. Examples: Lemon, Coriander, Henna, Rose, etc.

Tree: These are tall and large plants with hard and woody stem. A single

main-stem arises from the ground. The main-stem is called trunk. The trunk

gives out many branches at certain height. The branches carry leaves, flowers

and fruits. Examples: Mango, banyan, acacia, coconut, poplar, willow, etc.

Creepers- Plants with weak stem that cannot stand upright and spread on the

ground are called creepers. Examples: Pumpkin, Watermelon, sweet potato.

Climber- Plants with weak stem that needs support is called climber.

Examples: Grapevine, money-plant, cucumber, bean, etc.

Plants are classified into three types based on life cycle they have, namely:

Annuals: Annuals, as its name, completes their life cycle within a single season. They grow, bear fruit and die off in one season. Generally, a plant like herbs exhibits this type of life cycle. Examples are Mustard, rice, etc.



Biennials: Biennials are plants which end their life cycle at the end of the second season. They need two years to complete their entire growth. The first year they germinate, grow roots, stem and leaves; later in the second year they yield flowers and bear fruit. Ex: Carrot, radish, spinach etc.

Perennials: Perennials are vegetation having a life cycle of more than two seasons. Once they grow and start to produce fruits, they continue this cycle for a long period of time. They do not die after bearing fruit; they renew their parts, season after season. All trees belong to this category. Example, Mango, coconut trees, etc.



Animal Classification :

Based on nature

On the basis of nature of animals, they are classified into two types - wild animals and domestic animals.Animals that cannot be reared are called as wild animals. Tigers, lions, bears, etc are wild animals. Animals that can be reared are called as domestic animals. Dogs, cats, sheeps, goats, etc are domestic animals.

Based on number of cells

On the basis of presence of number of cells, animals are classified into unicellular animals and multi-cellular animals. Animals that made up of only one cell are called as unicellular animals. Amoeba, paramecium, etc. are some of the examples of unicellular animals.

Animals that made up of more than one cell are called as multi-cellular animals. The bodies of animals like the ant, mouse, elephant, fish, etc. are made up of many cells.



Based on habitat

On the basis of place where animals live (habitat), they are classified into terrestrial, aquatic and amphibious animals. Animals that live on land are called as terrestrial animals. Dog, fox, lion, elephant, etc are terrestrial animals. Animals that entirely live in water are known as aquatic animals. Fish, jellyfish, octopus, etc are some of the aquatic animals.Some animals like frog, tortoise, crocodile, etc can survive in land as well as water. They are known as amphibious animals.

Aerial animals are basically any animal who can naturally fly, glide, in the air. They are birds, insects, bats, sugar gliders, flying squirrels, and many others.

Based on presence of vertebral column

Depending on whether an animal has or does not have a vertebral column, animals are classified into vertebrate animals and invertebrate animals. If we draw a finger down the middle of our back, we shall feel a chain of bones. Each of these bones is called a vertebra and this chain is called the vertebral column.

Animals that have a vertebral column are called as vertebrate animals. Examples of vertebrate animals - fish, frogs, lizards, snakes, chameleons, sparrows, crows, rabbits, elephants, monkeys etc. About 2% of total animal species are vertebrates.

Animals that do not have a vertebral column are known as invertebrate animals. Animals like amoeba, worms, earthworms, snails, crabs, butterflies, etc do not have a vertebral column. About 98% of total animal species are invertebrates.

Based on mode of reproduction

On the basis of mode of reproduction, animals are also classified into

Oviparous animals Viparous animals.

Animals that are hatched out of eggs are known as oviparous animals. A sparrow, snake, etc lays eggs and hatches them. In a few days, the sparrow’s and snake’s young ones break the eggs and come out.

Animals that give birth to young ones are called as viviparous animals. The growth of a bitch’s young one first takes place inside the bitch’s body. When this growth is complete, the bitch gives birth to puppies.

PLANT AND ANIMAL CLASSIFICATION - InMotion Hosting

Documents

Transcript of PLANT AND ANIMAL CLASSIFICATION - InMotion Hosting