17 The Wonderful World of Plants-Low

The Wonderful World of Plants Written by Ron Fridell

Introduction A family is going out for dinner. The kids put on clean clothes. They go to the restaurant. Mom parks the car under a tree. Inside, everyone sits at a wooden table. Their dinner includes potatoes and fresh vegetables. Dad takes the leftovers home in a cardboard box. Think about the clothes, tree, table, food, and box. What do they have in common? They all come from plants! You see plants almost everywhere. You also use plants in many ways.

In this book, you will learn about plants and their parts. You will learn what plants need in order to live. You will find out how plants get food and how seeds grow. You will also learn why animals and plants need each other so much.

The Parts of a Plant Most plants have the same parts. They have roots, stems, and leaves. Each part helps the plant get what it needs to live. Roots usually grow down into the soil. Roots hold most plants in place. They help a plant stand tall. Roots also store water and food for the plant. Roots take in water and minerals from the soil. Plants need minerals to grow and be healthy.

The stem holds up the leaves so they can get sunlight. The stem carries water and minerals from the roots to all parts of the plant. Stems can also store water and food. Do You Know? Tree trunks are stems. The vines of strawberry and pumpkin plants are stems, too.

Leaves grow above the ground where there is light. They need light to make food for the plant. Leaves are usually flat. The flat shape helps them catch sunlight. Try This Look carefully at a leaf. Are the edges smooth, wavy, or shaped like a saw? Is the tip pointy or round? Does it feel smooth rough, or bumpy? Does it feel sticky, hairy, or waxy?