Parts of a Plant

A plant and its flower have different parts that all play a special role. In this activity, you will discover what each part does in helping the plant to survive and reproduce to make the seeds for new plants.

Let's start from the bottom of the plant and work up to the flower.

Roots absorb water and nutrients from the soil and hold the plant firmly in the ground.

Stems hold the plant upright and support it. They also transport water, minerals and sugars to the leaves and roots.

Leaves carry out photosynthesis, which is the process of converting light energy, carbon dioxide and water into chemical energy making food for the plant in the form of sugars.

When a flower is a bud, it is surrounded by sepals, which in many cases are green, as in this example. They protect the flower bud and are behind/underneath the petals when the flower opens. Together, all of the sepals are called a calyx.

Petals are often showy and some are brightly colored to attract insects who can pollinate the flower.

Stamens are the male organs of the flower. They have the pollen. The pollen is carried to the pistil (the female organ of a plant) of the same plant or another plant by insects, wind, water, animals or gravity. This is called pollination. When the pistil receives pollen, it is fertilized and will produce seeds.

The Pistil is the female organ of a flower. The ovary is the bottom part of the pistil and it becomes the seeds after the flower has been pollinated.

For this activity, look at the drawing of the plant below and answer the questions.