The morphology of flowering plants refers to their physical structure, including roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and reproductive organs. Morphology is the study of the form and structure of organisms and their parts. Understanding the morphology of flowering plants is essential as it provides insights into plant identification, classification, and function

By examining the external and internal features of plants, scientists can figure out the complex adaptations that enable plants to thrive in diverse environments. In this article, we will cover the morphology of flowering plants and their different parts in detail.

What are Flowering Plants?

Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms, are a diverse group of plants. There are approximately over 300,000 species of flowering plants on Earth. Flowering plants are characterized by the presence of flowers and seeds enclosed within a fruit. They represent the most abundant and widespread group of plants on Earth. Flowering plants include a variety of species ranging from small herbs to tall trees. Unlike non-flowering plants like ferns and mosses, flowering plants have specialized reproductive structures called flowers, which attract pollinators and facilitate sexual reproduction.

Morphology of Flowering Plants

The morphology of flowering plants shows that it is made up of two system – a root system and a shoot system. The detailed morphology of flowering plants is discussed below:

Root System of Flowering Plants

A root is the underground part of a plant that typically grows downward into the soil. The root arises from radicle. Its main functions are to anchor the plant, absorb water and nutrients from the soil, and store food reserves. The different branches of root form root system which varies in monocots and dicots. The different types of root system are:

Taproot System

This type of root system is commonly seen in dicots. The taproot system is characterized by a main root, known as the taproot, which grows vertically downward. It gives rise to smaller lateral roots. These roots provide structural support and help in the absorption of water and nutrients from deep within the soil. Example of plants with taproot system are carrot, mustard, and mango.

Also Read: Tap Root Diagram

Fibrous Root System

The fibrous root system is characterized by a network of thin, branching roots that spread out close to the soil surface. This type of root system is typical in monocotyledonous plants. Fibrous roots provide excellent anchorage and efficient absorption of water and nutrients from the soil. Example of plants with fibrous root system are grasses and cereals.

Adventitious Root System

An adventitious root system consists of roots that arise from any part of the plant other than the radicle. These roots may develop from stems, leaves, or even other roots, and they serve functions such as support, anchorage, and nutrient uptake. Adventitious roots are common in plants like ivy, mangroves, and maize.

Regions of Root 

The root has various regions:

• The root is covered with a root apex, also known as a root cap, which protects the tender apex of the root as it grows through the soil.
• The region of meristematic activity, although very small, repeatedly divides and forms the root enlargement, causing the root to grow in different directions.
• Another region is the root elongation zone, responsible for increasing the root’s length.
• The region of maturation, located at the base of the root in the ground, contains hair-like structures called root hairs, which aid in the absorption of water from the soil.

Also Read: Difference Between Radicle and Plumule

Modification of Root

In some plants, roots change their structure and shape to perform functions other than water and mineral absorption. Roots can develop from various regions of the plant, including branches, and may grow upwards into the soil. Additionally, some roots, such as carrot, turnip, and sweet potato, serve as storage organs. Also, roots play a role in respiration through various mechanisms.

Function of Root

The root functions are:

• Anchors the plant in the soil
• Absorbs water and minerals from the soil
• Stores food reserves
• Facilitates the uptake of nutrients through root hairs

Shoot System

The shoot system of a plant refers to the above-ground part of plant that is responsible for photosynthesis, reproduction, and support. It includes stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits. The shoot system plays a crucial role in the plant’s growth, development, and interaction with the environment. The shoot arises from the plumule of seed.

Stem

The stem is the ascending part of the axis bearing branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits. They have the nodes and internodes. The region where the leaves are born is called nodes and the internodes are present between the two nodes. The stem bears buds which may be terminal or axillary. The stem is generally green later it becomes the wood it turns dark brown.

Modification of Stem

Modification of stems refers to the changes in structure and function that occur in certain plants to adapt to specific environmental conditions or to perform some tasks. The modified stems help to provide protection, vegetative propagation, and other functions which helps plant survive.

Various modifications of stems include:

• Climbers
• Runners
• Suckers
• Tubers
• Rhizome
• Tendrils
• Thorns
• Cladode

Also Read: Difference Between Rhizome and Tuber

Functions of Stem

The functions of stem are:

• Supports the plant and holds up leaves, flowers, and fruits
• Transports water, nutrients, and sugars between roots and leaves
• Stores food reserves for future use
• Produces new shoots and branches through vegetative propagation
• Provides structural support for climbing plants

Leaves of Flowering Plants

The leaf is a flattened structure borne on the stem. Leaves develope at the node and bear a bud in its axil. Later, the axillary bud develops into a branch. Leaves originate from the shoot apical meristem and are arranged in an acropetal order, making them the most important vegetative organs for photosynthesis. A typical leaf consists of three main parts: the leaf base, petiole, and lamina. The leaf attaches to the stem through the leaf base and may bear two lateral small leaf-like structures called stipules.

In monocots, the leaf base expands into the sheath partially covering the stem, while in some plants, it may become swollen, known as a pulvinus. The petiole helps hold the blade to the light, while the lamina blade, green and expansive, contains veins and veinlets. Veins provide rigidity to the leaf blade and act as channels for water transport. The shape, margin, apex, surface, and extent of incisions of the lamina vary among different leaves.

Venation of leaves

The arrangement of the leaves to the veins and veinlets in the lamina of the leaf is called venation. When there is a network-like structure is called reticulate venation, and when the leaves are arranged in equal or one on each side of veins and veinlets is called parallel venation. Some trees have reticulate venation and some have parallel venation and reticulate venation mostly shows on the dicot plants and parallel venation shows on the monocot plants. 

Types of Leaves

There are two main types of leaves – simple leaf and compound leaf. The difference between them is given below: