2.

3 Support in Plants
1. Why?
a) Plant grows and it produces more leaves.
b) Grow tall therefore needs to withstand the forces of gravity.
c) Spreading of leaves and branches horizontally.
2. Aquatic plants are supported by buoyancy and support.

Support in aquatic and terrestrial plants

Submerged plants
1.Hydrilla sp. have thin, narrow and flexible leaves.
2. This type of leaves provide little resistance to water flows, plants can be tugged at
and pulled by water currents without being damaged.
3. Air sacs inside the leaves and stems keep the plant floating close to the surface to
obtain maximum sunlight.
4. Their stems have no woody tissues.
Floating plant
1. Water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) have broad leaves that are firm but flexible
enough to resist tearing by wave action.
2. Aerenchyma tissues (spongy tissues with large air spaces between the cells) in the
stems and leaves provide buoyancy so that the plants can float on the surface of the
water.
Herbaceous plants (Terresterial plants)
1. Support provided by the turgidity of the parenchyma and collenchyma cells.
2. Turgor pressure of the fluid content in the central vacuole pushes the cell
membrane and the cell contents against the cell wall, creating support for the stem,
root and leaves.
3. The thickening of the cell walls with cellulose and pectin in collenchyma cells
provide additional mechanical strength.
Woody plants
1. Support provided by sclerenchyma and xylem tissues.
2. Sclerenchyma tissue is composed of cells with secondary cell walls that are usually
lignified which support non-growing parts of plants.
3. Two types of sclerenchyma tissue:
a) fibres - long, straight and thin
- found around vascular tissues
b) sclereids – short, circular and irregular shaped
- found in fruit and seeds
4. During primary growth development, the cell walls of xylem vessels and tracheids
are thickened with lignin and forms vessels .
Form 5: Chapter 2 – Locomotion and Support
2.1 Support and Locomotion in Humans and Animals

5. Type of vessels:
a) annular (ring shaped) vessel
b) spiral vessel
c) scalariform (ladder like) vessel
d) pitted vessel
6. Secondary growth of xylem results in the formation of wood which makes the plant
stronger and and provides support..
7. Other supporting structures:
a) Buttress root – roots that come out from the lower part of the trunk and grow into
the ground, providing support for the tree.
b) Creepers, vines and lianas – use other trees for support.