Seed to a seedling stage

                                                                         

In the previous diagram, we saw how a seed germinates. After a seed is placed in soil, a small structure comes out. This structure is called the radical. A radical is the structure that gradually grows into roots.

After some time, another structure comes out form the upper region. This structure is called the plumule. The plumule slowly grows into a shoot with young leaves. In the initial stage when there are no leaves, the stem makes food. A young plant that has a soft green stem but no branches is called a seedling.

 

                                    Seedling to mature plant stage 

we need to provide nutrients and water to the seedling regularly. When a seedling gets its requirements, it grows bigger and bigger. The stem becomes thick and strong that may have branches. The leaves increase in number and size. New leaves start making food. After the plant becomes mature, it bears buds that develop into flowers.

                                                   Reproductive stage  

 

A plant reproduces with the help of flowers. First, buds come out, and then they bloom into flowers.  A plant many have big or small flowers. It may have bright and colourful or dull flowers.

A flower bears four main parts called whorls. The four whorls of a slower are calyx, corolla, androecium and gynoecium. Calyx protects flower in the earlier stage. Corolla is colourful and attracts insects. Androecium and gynoecium are male and female reproductive parts of a flower respectively. Honeybees and some other insects help in the reproduction of these plants. Sometimes, wind and water may also help these plants reproduce.

After some time, flowers change to fruits. These fruits have seeds in them. We can use these seeds to grow new plants.

Not all plants are grown using seeds. Sometimes, we use plant part to grow new plants. Sugarcanes, potatoes and gingers are such plants. These plants have a small eye or a node, from where small buds come out. We need to cut these plants in such a way that each piece gets a bud. When the part of that plant is used , we get new plants. The process is useful to those plants that do not bear flowers or have seedless varieties.

  Most of us may have cut a stem of a rose plant and grown new plants first, we need to cut the rose plant’s stem into pieces. Then, each piece in placed in soil with the thicker part towards the ground and the thinner part facing above. Then, each piece is watered on a regular basis. After some days, leaves start coming from the aerial part transforming each piece into a new rose plant.