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Plant �Morphology

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Plant Morphology

Definition -��The study of various external features of the organism is known as morphology. �Plant morphology also known as external morphology deals with the study of shape,�size and structure of plants and their parts�(roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds). �

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Need to study morphology�

  • Important in taxonomy.
  • Determining productivity of crops.
  • Indicate the specific habitats of living as well as the fossil plants.
  • Correlate the distribution of living and fossil plant in space and time.
  • Tool for phylogeny.

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Plant Morphology

Vegetative Morphology

Habit

Herb

Shrub

Trees

Reproductive Morphology

Habitat

Life span

Aquatic

Terrestrial

Biennial

Perennial�(Geophyte)

Annual�(Therophyte or Ephemerals)

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Special features

  • Geophytes
  • Climbers verses Liana
  • Caudex
  • Mangroves
  • Monocarpic and Polycarpic

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Parts of a flowering plant

ROOT SYSTEM

SHOOT SYSTEM

Includes roots and its lateral branches

Includes stem branches and leaves

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Characteristic features of root

  • Root is the descending portion of the plant axis.
  • Generally non-green in colour as it lacks chlorophyll.
  • Does not possess nodes, internodes and buds.
  • It bears root hairs.
  • It is positively geotropic and negatively phototrophic in nature.

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Regions of root

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Types of root system

Tap root system

Fibrous root� system

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Functions of root

PRIMARY FUNCTION

SECONDARY FUNCTION

  • Absorption of water and mineral salts for sail
  • Help to anchor the plant to the sail

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  • Root perform additional function like storage, breathing etc… for which they are modified in their structure.

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Modification of root for secondary function

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Shoot system

  • Characteristic features of the stem
  • Functions of stem
  • Secondary functions of stem-new.

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Buds

  • 1.Terminal bud.
  • 2.Lateral bud.
  • 3.Extra axillary bud.Newly added.
  • 4.Accessory bud.Newly added.
  • 5.Adventitious buds.Types newly introduced with examples.
  • Radical buds.
  • Foliar buds.
    • Cauline buds.

6.Bulbils.Newly added.

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Types of stem.

  • Excurrent
  • Decurrent
  • Caudex
  • Culm
  • Types are newly added.With examples.

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Modification of stem

  • Flow chart is given for types.
  • Aerial modification:
  • 1.Creepers-newly added with examples.
  • 2.Trailers-new.

a.Prostrate.

b.Decumbent.

c.Diffuse.

3.Climbers.

a.Root climbers.

b.Stem climbers.- Dextrose and Sinistrose

c.Hook climbers.

d.Thorn climbers.

e.Lianas.

f.Tendril climbers.

4.Phylloclade .

5.Cladode.

6.Thorns.

All are newly added except phylloclade and cladode.

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Sub aerial stem modifications

  • Runner-same.
  • Stolon-name, now explanation added
  • Sucker-same.
  • Offset –name alone before,now explanation also included.

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Underground stem

  • Bulb-newly added explanation.
  • Corm-newly added explanation.
  • Rhizome-same.
  • Tuber-same.

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Stem branching

  • Newly added.
  • Indeterminate
  • Determinate

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LEAF�Newly introduced

  • Phyllome
  • 1.Characteristics of leaf.
  • 2.Functions of leaf.
  • 3.Secondary functions of leaf.

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Parts of leaf

  • Parts of leaf –same.But clear image used.
  • All parts explained with examples.Many examples are used for competitive exams.
  • New term stipel is introduced.

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    • Leaf modifications
      • Spines
      • (Zizyphus)

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      • Hooks
      • (Bignonia)

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      • Leaf blader
      • (Utricularia)

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      • Storage leaves
      • (Aloe)

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      • Pitcher
      • (Napenthes)

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      • Phyllode
      • (Acacia)

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      • Floral leaves
      • (Delonix)

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      • Tendrils
      • (Pisum)

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venation

  • Many examples are used.
  • New alternative terms introduced.(Unicostate,multicostate)

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Phyllotaxy

  • QR code attached to better understand phyllotaxy.
  • Basic types are same,but sub types are introduced.
  • Alternate spiral,alternate distichous.
  • More examples are used to explain.
  • Leaf mosaic is newly introduced term.

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Leaf type

  • Types are same.But more examples are given.
  • New terms are used.

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Leaf modifications

  • Infographic is given to explain modifications.
  • Storage leaves newly added.
  • Ptyxis is newly added.

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Leaf duration

  • Newly added types.
  • 1.Cauducuous.
  • 2.Deciduous.
  • 3.Evergreen.
  • 4.Marcescent.

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Leaf symmetry

  • Newly introduced.
  • 1.Dorsiventral leaf.
  • 2.Isobilateral leaf.
  • 3.Centric leaf.
  • 4.Heterophylly.

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