Introduction
Morphology is the discipline of science that studies the structure, features and form of organisms.
The number and form of petals, the number of stamens, the size of the petals, and the number and position of styles and ovaries are all factors involved in the morphology of flowering plants. Some of these characteristics, such as the size of floral organs, appear to be controlled by multiple genes, but the difference between single (five petals) and double (>10 petals) was found to be inherited by a single gene.
Examples include roots, stalks, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds. As a result, all angiosperms have these five common features in their morphology. Morphology of flowering plants helps us understand their different characteristics; however, if you look closely at a plant, you’ll see that it always has root and shoot systems, which may or may not produce flowers and fruit. Flowers are produced by flowering plants, often known as angiosperms.
Know About Morphology of Flowering Plants
Flowering plants are the most diverse group of land plants, with over 369,000 species. Seed-bearing angiosperms are angiosperms that generate seeds. Flowering plants evolved from gymnosperms during the Triassic period, and the first flowering plant appeared 130 million years ago.
Flowers are the reproductive organs of flowering plants and the key differentiating feature that distinguishes them from other seed plants. Angiosperm speciation has resulted from these processes, allowing plants to adapt to an array of environmental habitats.
The process by which flowering plants reproduce is called pollination. Pollen grains are carried from the anther of the male flower to the female flower’s stigma, where fertilisation and seed development occur.
Detailed Morphology of Flowering Plants
According to the morphology of flowering plants, each plant has two systems. Both the root and shoot systems are critical. The root system establishes its system by burrowing deep into the ground. On the other hand, the shoot system is above ground and comprises many plant parts.
Root System
This refers to the plant’s plunging portion, which grows underneath the root of the soil. During germination, the seed’s root grows downwards and branches out. The branches and the primary root make up the root system. Roots are not green because they do not contain chlorophyll. Instead, roots are positively geotropic and hydrotropic, growing towards the ground and water, respectively, and negatively phototropic, away from direct sunshine.
Plants have three different types of root systems. Here’s the morphology of flowering plant study material and its root systems in detail:
Taproot System
The primary root emerges from the radicle of the developing seeds in this type of root system, which is mostly found in dicots. Several roots sprout laterally from the parent root in this root system. The taproot system provides the plant with a solid anchor, and the taproot penetrates down into the ground. Some examples include Mango, Mustard, Gram, etc.
The Fibrous Root System
Monocots have a fibrous root structure, with roots that form into a thin and dense network. These roots do not reach much deeper into the earth. However, they don’t stray far from the surface. As a result, unlike Taproots, they cannot provide solid anchorage. Some plants have branching roots that grow from a primary root, although the primary root is short-lived.
With this type of root system, the roots emerge from the radicle and plumule of the growing plant. Taproots and fibrous roots are sometimes found together on some plants. Some examples include Onion, Wheat, Paddy, Maize, etc.
The Adventitious Root System
These roots produce from other parts of the plant. Monocots are distinguished by their unique root system. Roots could originate from stems, leaves, shoots, or any other plant material in this situation. Adventitious roots can sprout in reaction to stress or spontaneously. They’re more of a component made to survive harsh conditions. Stressors include drought, food inadequacy, and physical wounds. Adventitious roots assist in vegetative propagation, support, and various additional tasks. Examples include Oak Trees, Black pepper trees, Banyan trees, Maise, etc.
Functions of Roots
Under the morphology of flowering plants, the roots play an incredibly important role. The four major functions of the roots are as follows:
- Provide Anchorage – The plant’s roots penetrate the ground and keep it upright and in one spot. As a result, they serve as a source of support for the plants
- Absorptions of Essentials – Hydrotropic roots spread beneath the surface, searching for water and nutrients. They take both the vital minerals and the water required for plant growth from the earth
- Storage – Besides absorption, roots also store the plant’s food and minerals
- Translocation of Essentials – Water and minerals are transported to the stem through the roots
System of Shooting
The stem is an important part of the plant as well. It’s the part of the plant axis that bears branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits and assists with water and mineral conduction. The plant’s aerial component is formed from the plumule of an embryo or germinating seeds. Young stems are generally green, but they become woody and brown over time. The stem is transformed into various forms depending on the function.
Stems
Plants rely on stems for axial stability. They are autotrophic and grow above ground. They grow in the direction of light, away from the soil. A terminal bud can be found at the stem’s apex. The young stems are a bright green colour. The stem develops a protective covering that is brown and tough as the plant matures into a tree.
Underground Modifications of Stem
Such stems go subterranean after alteration and are used for food storage, perennation, and vegetative reproduction. The following forms of underground stem alterations exist:
- Rhizome: A modified main stem that develops horizontally beneath the earth’s surface in a diageotropic form of growth. It has distinct nodes and internodes and is thick, prostrate, dorsiventral, and branching
- Tuber: It’s the swollen tip of a subterranean branch. It grows horizontally under the earth in a circular, oval, or cylindrical shape
- Bulb: It’s a major stem that’s been subterranean modified to a great extent. It takes on the shape of a disc, convex lens, or cone. Internodes are small because nodes are so close together
- Corm: It’s the subsurface modification of the main stem’s basal section. It is a vertically growing short, thick, bloated, unbranched, solid, and meaty stem
Conclusion
The morphology of flowering plants is an important aspect of the ecosystem since they support the majority of animals, birds, and people.
Angiosperms are distinct from other plants in many ways. The presence of bloom is the first and most fundamental distinction. Under the morphology of flowering plant study material, pollination is another major mode of reproduction to learn. Pollen grains are transferred from the anthers to the stigma of the flower, where they are fertilised, and the zygote is formed.