3.

10 Plants and Food

SC:
I can identify the cells, tissues and
LI: Can I organs within a plant.
describe what I can describe the roles of different
tissues and organs within the plant.
organs plants I can compare the cells and tissues
within the leaf, and their role in
have? photosynthesis.
Syllabus points
Plants
• In the same way as animal have
organs so do plants.

• Top part above soil is shoot

• Under soil is root
 • Roots take up the water and minerals from the soil
Roots • They also anchor the plant in the ground.
 • Stem contain xylem and phloem.
• The xylem carries water and mineral up the stem
Stem • The phloem carries sugar
• The stem supports the plant.
 • Contain mesophyll cell packed with chloroplasts to absorb
Leaves light for photosynthesis
• Also contains stomata to allow gases in and out of the leaf.
 • Flowers are the reproductive organ of plants

Flowers • They typically have both male and female

parts.
• Main role is to attach insects for pollination.
Structure of a leaf
LI: Identify the cells and tissues within a leaf and explain how they are
specialised for their function.

Extra challenge: What do you already know about photosynthesis?

Produce a mind map of your ideas.
Leaves are adapted for photosynthesis
• Plants are adapted to their role. There
are 5 main tissue/cells you need to know
• In your expert groups teach yourself and fill in the
worksheet, and after 8 minutes you will teach the others
about this cell/tissue.
 How are leaves adapted for photosynthesis?
_________
________________

_____________

Vascular bundle

______________
 How are leaves adapted for photosynthesis?

1. Upper Epidermis 3. _______________

2. _xylem and phloem 4. ________________

Xylem carries water

and materials up the
stem

Phloem carries sugar

5. Guard cell
 How are leaves adapted for photosynthesis?

1. _______________ 3. _______________

2. _______________ 4. ________________

5. _______________
1. Waxy cuticle
The outer surface of the leaf has a thin waxy
covering called the waxy cuticle.
This prevents water loss within the leaf by
evaporation (called transpiration).
The cells of the upper epidermis are also
transparent. Can you guess why? (want light to
pass through)
Plants that live entirely in water do not have a waxy
cuticle.
Extra challenge:
1. Why is the waxy cuticle found on the top of the leaf and not at
the bottom? (Think about what increases evaporation?)
2. Why do plants that live in water not need a waxy cuticle?
3. How do you think the waxy cuticle for a plant found in the desert
would differ to that found in the UK?
2. Vascular bundle (xylem and phloem)
Plants need a transport system to move food, water and minerals
around.
They use two different systems – xylem moves water and solutes
from the roots to the leaves and phloem moves food substances
from leaves to the rest of the plant.

Xylem vessels are involved in the movement of water through a

plant from its roots to its leaves. Water:
• Is absorbed from the soil through root hair cells
• Is transported through the xylem vessels up the stem to the
leaves
• Evaporates from the leaves
Extra challenge:
Phloem 1. Xylem transport water and
• Phloem vessels are involved in translocation. This is the movement mineral ions. What mineral
of food substances from the stems to growing tissues and ions do plants need?
storage tissues.
3. Palisade cells
The top layer of cells in a leaf are called
the palisade leaf cells.
They are specially adapted to make the
most of the light conditions they receive,
so they have many more chloroplasts than
other plant cells to absorb as much
sunlight at possible for photosynthesis.
Palisade cells are also more block shaped
so that many of them can be packed into
the top layer of the leaf.
Extra challenge:
1. Why are palisade cells tall and thin (vertical),
rather than horizontal? To absorb more light
2. Why do root hair cells not have chloroplasts?
They are under the soil so they don’t absorb light
4. Spongy mesophyll layer
Spongy mesophyll cells are not packed tightly
together but have air spaces.
This allows for gas exchange; carbon dioxide to
reach the palisade cells for photosynthesis
and oxygen to be excreted.
This tissue contains irregularly shaped cells
with few chloroplasts.

Extra challenge:
1. On your diagram draw two arrows showing the movement of
oxygen and carbon dioxide? (Hint: What goes into the leaf and
what comes out?) CO2 in O2 out
2. Why is there fewer chloroplasts than palisade cells?
Lower down in the leaf no light comes in, so it does gas exchange
 5. Guard cells and
stomata
Carbon dioxide and oxygen can’t just diffuse
into the leaf. They have to be let in
through special pores called stomata.
Stomata are usually concentrated on the
bottom of the leaf to limit water loss
(transpiration).

Guard cells  are cells surrounding each stoma

(singular); they open and close the stomata
(plural). This process requires energy.

Extra challenge:
1. Why are there many chloroplasts in
the guard cells?
2. How do the guard cells open and
close the stomata? (Hint: active
transport, osmosis and
turgid/flaccid cells)