Plant Systems

Plants have two main systems.



A9.6 The shoot system includes the trunk and leaves.
The shoot system contains everything that is above the ground. This includes
  • stem or trunk
  • leaves or needles
  • buds
  • flowers
  • fruits, vegetables, and nuts
It also contains swollen roots called tubers. Tubers are often the root vegetables we eat as they store energy for the plant. Some examples of these are potatoes and carrots.

The root system contains everything below the ground, not including tubers. This includes aerial roots, even though those are above ground. Aerial roots are roots that crawl along the surface of the ground rather than being underground. If you have ever seen an orchid, you may have noticed the aerial roots it has.




A9.7 The root system

  Did You Know?


A9.8 Aerial Roots on an orchid

Aerial roots are used to absorb moisture from the air in environments with a high humidity. In plants like orchids that grow in decomposing trees, these roots are also used to help anchor the plants by grabbing onto the trees and shrubs surrounding the plant.

  Read This

Please read page 298 in your Science 10 textbook. Make sure you take notes on your readings to study from later. You should focus on the parts of the shoot and root systems. Remember, if you have any questions or you do not understand something, ask your teacher!

  Practice Questions

Complete the following practice questions to check your understanding of the concept you just learned. Make sure you write complete answers to the practice questions in your notes. After you have checked your answers, make corrections to your responses (where necessary) to study from.

  1. Draw a diagram of a plant that includes all the parts of the root and shoot systems. 

A9.9 Root and shoot system