Abdul in the Garden Class 4 Notes EVS Chapter 19

The chapter describes the main parts of the plants and roots and their function. Here are parts of plants and their function.

Roots

• Plants have roots that help them stay in the soil and soak up water and nutrients. 
• These roots transport the water and nutrients to the rest of the plant through the stem.

Roots soak up nutrients

• Roots also play a role in vegetative reproduction and compete with other plants for space and resources.
• They also store food for the plant.
• They soak up water to provide it to the stem, leaves, flowers, and fruits of the plant.
• There are two main types of roots: taproots and fibrous roots.

Taproots

• Taproots are roots that grow straight down into the soil. 
• They have a few small roots that branch off from the main one. Taproots start from the radicle of the seedling during seed development. 
• They're mostly found in plants with two seed leaves (dicotyledons) and gymnosperms.
• Examples of plants with taproots include beetroot, carrot, and parsley.

Types of Roots

Fibrous Roots

• On the other hand, fibrous roots are thin and spread out in different directions. 
• They're common in plants with a single seed leaf (monocotyledons) and ferns. 
• Fibrous roots form a dense mat as the plant matures.
• Examples of plants with fibrous roots include rice, wheat, and maize.

Vegetables that have Roots

Other Parts of a Plant

Parts of a Plant

Stem

• It helps the plant to remain upright.
• It transfers water from roots to the upper part of the plant while food from the leaves to the roots of the plants.

Leaves

• Leaves are the food factories of the plant; they prepare food for the plant.
• Leaves also provide shade and give out water vapours keeping the temperature of the shady portion lesser than that outside.

Flowers

• The main function of flowers is reproduction.
• They are the sources of nectar for the birds.
• They are the source of beauty in parks.

Fruits

• The main function of the fruits is to help in the dispersal of seeds.
• It also protects seeds from any injury.
• They are edible parts of the plant.

Unusual Roots

• The Banyan tree has a special type of roots which grow down from the low hanging branches of the tree. 

Banyan Tree

• These grow down from the branches until they go into the soil. They grow in thickness and become thick like pillars. 
• They provide strong support to the plant.
• The banyan tree also has roots under the ground, just as other trees have.
• Other trees that have similar roots include:
  Rubber trees
  Mangrove trees
  Pandanus trees
  

Do You Know

• Desert Oak is a tree found in Australia. It is a medium-sized tree having very few leaves. 
• Its roots are about 30 times longer than its height. 
• The roots of this plant go deeper into the soil till they each water. 
• The water absorbed by the roots of the plant is stored in the tree trunk. When there is an acute scarcity of water in the region, the local people used to put thin pipes into the trunk of the tree to drink this water.

Desert Oak Tree

Law Against Cutting Trees

• Laws against cutting trees are rules made by the government to protect trees from being chopped down unnecessarily. 

• These laws say that people should not cut trees without permission from the government. If someone breaks this rule and cuts a tree without permission, they might have to pay a fine or even go to jail. 
• These laws are there to keep our environment healthy and to make sure we have enough trees for the future.

What Grows

• Seeds are like tiny packets that hold baby plants inside them. When we plant seeds in soil and give them water, warmth, and sunlight, they start to grow.
• A seedling is a young plant that grows from a seed. It has a small root that goes into the soil to get water and food. Then, a tiny shoot comes out of the seed, and it grows into the stem and leaves of the plant.
• As the seedling gets bigger, it grows more roots, stems, and leaves until it becomes a full-grown plant. But when they are just starting, seedlings need lots of care, like watering them regularly and protecting them from bugs and bad weather.