Points to Remember

Morphology : The study of various external features, forms and relative

position of different organs of the organism is known as morphology. It may be
further divided into internal and external morphology.
External Morphology : It deals with external forms like shape, size, colour,
structure and relative position of different organs.
Internal Morphology : Further divided into anatomy and histology.
Anatomy : It deals with the study of internal structure exposed after dissection
and opening of various parts of an organ.
Histology : The study of tissues, their composition and structure.
Adaptation : Any alteration in the structure or function of an organism
or any of its part that results from natural selection and by which the organism
becomes better fitted to survive and multiply in its environment.
The Root : The root is underground part of the plant and develops from
elongation of radicle of the embryo.
Characteristics : It is inside the soil, chlorophyll is absent, absence of nodes,
internodes, leaves and buds; positive geotropic and hydrotropic and negative
phototropic.
Main functions of root system :
1. Absorption of water and minerals from the soil.
2. Provides anchorage to plant parts.
3. Stores reserve food material and synthesises plant growth regulators
(cytokinins)

Morphology of Flowering Plants 47

 Various types of root

↓
Tap root Fibrous root Adventitious root

↓ ↓ ↓
Originates from radical Originates from base of Originates from parts of
the stem the plant other than radicle
Dicotyledonous plants, Monocotyledonous Banyan tree (Prop roots)
e.g., gram, pea, mango, plants, e.g., wheat, Maize (stilt roots)
mustard. paddy, grasses. Rhizophora (Respiratory
roots)

Regions of Roots
Root Cap : The root is covered at the apex by the thimble-like structure
which protect the tender apical part.
Region of meristematic activity : Cells of this region have the capability
to divide; cells are small, thin walled with dense protoplasm.
Region of elongation : Cell of this region are elongated and enlarged.This
region is responsible for the growth of root in length.
Region of Maturation : This region has differnentiated and matured cells.
Some epidermal cells form very fine and delicate thread like structures called
root hairs.
Modifications of Root : Roots are modified for support, storage of food,
respiration.
 For support : Prop roots in banyan tree, stilt roots in maize and sugarcane.
 For respiration : Pneumatophores in Rhizophora (Mangrove).
 For storage of food : Fusiform (radish), Napiform (turnip), Conical (carrot),
Fasiculated fleshy roots (Asparagus).
The Stem : Stem is the aerial part of the plant and develops from plumule
of the embryo. It bears nodes and internodes.
Functions of stem : Exposure of leaves, conduction of water and minerals,
translocation of food, exposure of flowers and fruits.

48 Biology Class - 11
Modifications of Stem :
In some plants the stems are modified to perform the function of storage of
food, support, protection and vegetative propagation.
 For food storage : Rhizome (ginger, turmeric), Tuber (potato), Bulb (onion),
Corm (Colocasia, Amorphophallus/Zamin-kand)
 For support : Stem tendrils of watermelon, grapevine, cucumber, pumpkins.
 For protection : Axilliary buds of stem of Citrus, Bougainvillea get modified
into pointed thorns. They protect the plants from animals.
 For vegetative propagation : Underground stems of grass (runner), strawberry
(stolons), leateral branches of mint and jasmine, Eichhornia (offsets).
 For assimilation of food : Flattened stem of Opuntia and cylindrical stem
of Euphorbia contains chlorophyll and performs photosynthesis.
The Leaf : Develops from shoot apcial meristem, flattened, green structure
acropetally arranged manufacture the food by photosynthesis. It has bud in axil.
A typical leaf has leaf base, petiole and lamina (leaf blade). In some leguminous
plants the leaf base may become swollen which is called as pulvinus.

Leaf base → bears two lateral outgrowth called stipules

Expanded to enclose stem Swollen

Pulvinus
Sheathing leaf base
Covers stem totally Partially Mimosa
(Gram, wheat) (Butter cup) (Leguminous plant)

Types of Leaf
Simple Compound
(Single leaf blade) (Leaf has number of leaflets)
e.g., mango, peeple

Pinnately Palmately
Compound Compound
(Leaflets present on common, (Leaflets attached to common
axis rachis) point at petiole tip)
(Neem, rose) (Silk, cotton)

Morphology of Flowering Plants 49

 Venation : The arrangement of veins and veinlets in the lamina of leaf.
Types of Venation :
1. Reticulate : Veinlets form a network as in leaves of dicotyledonous plants
(China rose, peepal).
2. Parallel : Veins are parallel to each other as in leaves of monocotyledonous
plants (grass, maize,sugarcane).

 Phyllotaxy : The pattern of arrangement of leaves on the stem or branch.

Types of phyllotaxy

Alternate Opposite Whorled

(Single leaf at a node)in (Two leaves at a node) in (More than two leaves in a
alternate manner opposite manner whorl at a node)
e.g., China rose Mustard, e.g., Calotropis, guava e.g., Nerium, Alstonia

Functions of Leaf
photosynthesis, gaseous exchange, transpiration, protection of buds and
conduction.

50 Biology Class - 11
Modifications of Leaves :
Type Function Example

 Tendrils : (Climbing) — Sweet Pea, Pea

 Spines : (Protection) — Aloe, Opuntia, Argemone
 Pitcher : (Nutrition) — Nepenthes
 Hook : (Support) — Cat’s nail
 Fleshy Leaves : (Storaged food) — Onion and Garlic

Inflorescene : The arrangement of flowers on the floral axis (Peduncle)

Main types of Inflorescence

Main types of Inflorescence

Recemose Cymose

1. It is indefinite inflorescene 1. It is definite inflorescence

2. Main axis continues to grow and 2. Main axis terminates in flowers and the
flowers borne in acropetal succession flowers borne in basipetal succession
e.g. : Radish, Mustard, Amaranthus e.g. : Cotton, Jasmine, Calotropis

Special Inflorescence type—Ficus, Salvia, Euphorbia,Sunflower

Flower—Modified shoot meant for reproduction

On the basis of symmetry flower can be :

↓ ↓ ↓
Actinomorphic Zygomorphic Asymmetric
(Radial symmetry) (Bilateral symmetry) (Irregular)
↓ ↓ ↓
Flower can be divided Flower can be divided into Flower cannot be divided
into two equal halves two similar halves only in in two similar halves by
in any radial plane one plane any vertical plane passing
passing through centre through centre
eg : Mustard, Datura, eg : Pea, bean, Gulmohar, eg : Canna
Chilli cassia

Morphology of Flowering Plants 51

 On the basis of floral appendages flower can be :
↓ ↓ ↓
Trimerous Tetramerous Pentamerous
(multiples of 3) (multiples of 4) (multiples of 5)
On the basis of position of Calyx, corolla and androecium in respect of ovary,
flower can be—

of position of Calyx, corolla and androecium

↓ ↓ ↓
Hypogynous Perigynous Epigynous
(Superior Ovary) (Half inferior ovary) (inferior ovary)
↓ ↓ ↓
Mustard, China rose, Plum, Rose, Peach Guava, Cucumber
Brinjal Plum, Rose, Peach ray florets (sun flower)
Thalamus/Receptacle : Swollen end of flower stalk (pedicel) which bears four
whorls of flower viz., Calyx (K), Corolla (C), Androecium (A) and Gynoecium (G).

Flower can be

Bisexual Unisexual
if have both Androecium can
and Gynoecium
have only have only Gynoecium
Androecium/Stamen Carpel
52 Biology Class - 11
 Bract—Reduced leaf base found at the base of pedicel. Flowers with bracts
are called bracteale and without bracts are called ebracteate.
Perianth : If calyx and corolla are not distinguishable, they are called
perianth.
Example : Lily
Aestivation: The mode of arrangement of sepals or petals infloral bud.
Types of aestivation :
1. Valvate : Sepals or petals just touch one another at the margin, withut
overlapping. e.g., Calotropis
2. Twisted : Sepals or petals overlap the next sepal or petal e.g., China rose,
Cotton, lady’s finger.
3. Imbricate : The margins of sepals or petals overlap one another but not in
any definite direction, e.g., Cassia, Gulmohar.
4. Vexillary : The largest petal overlaps the two lateral petals which in turn
overlap two smallest anterior petals, e.g., Bean, Pea.
Placentation : The arrangement of ovules within the ovary.
Types of Placentation :
1. Marginal : Placenta forms a ridge along the ventral suture of ovary, e.g.,
Pea.
2. Axile : Margins of carpels fuse to form central axis, e.g., China rose, Tomato,
Lemon
3. Perietal : Ovules develop on inner wall of ovary, e.g., Mustard, Argemone
4. Free central : Ovules borne on central axis, lacking septa, e.g., Dianthus,
Primrose

5. Basal : Placenta develop at the base of ovary, e.g., Sunflower, Marigold

Morphology of Flowering Plants 53

 Placenta : Parenchymatous flattened cushion inside ovary where ovules are
borne.
The fruit : After fertilisation, the mature ovary develops into fruit. The
parthenocarpic fruits are formed from ovary without fertilisation (seedless fruit-
Banana)

Fruit (Ripened Ovary)

Pericarp (Fruit Wall) Seed

Epicarp Mesocarp Endocarp Seed coat Embryo

(outer) (middle) (inner)

Embryonal axis (Plumule + Cotyledons (Store

Radicle) food)

Monocotyledonous seed—Endosperm bulky and stores food, covered by

proteinaceous Aleurone layer. Seed has single large cotyledon–scutellum.
Plumule is enclosed in Coleoptile and Radicle is enclosed in Coleorrhiza.
Dicotyledonous Seed—
Testa (Outer layer)
Seed Coat
Tegmen (Inner Layer)

Hilum —is a scar on the seed coat through which seeds attached to the fruit.
Micropyle—small pore, above hilum
Cotyledons—two; freshly, full of preserve food materials

54 Biology Class - 11