Before we begin this section it is important for us to review the short discussion on plants from the second module-Heredity. Take time to also review the pictures of each of the plant’s parts. Naturally, the plant structures that we will continue to study further are of the vascular plants belonging to the Class Angiospermae. These land plants, as you recall, have roots, stems, leaves, and flowers. The function of the roots is to anchor the plant in the soil and absorb water and minerals. Stems support the plant so that the leaves can get sunlight, and their tubes direct fluids up and down the plant. The function of the leaf is photosynthesis – the making of food for the green plant. The flower and its parts make up the reproductive organs to pass genetic material on to the next generation and to propagate the species. These structures are the organs of the plant, made up of several types of tissues.

In this module we will discuss the specific tissues, which make up these organs. Unlike animals, the plants’ organs do not form organ systems. Plants have fewer types of tissues than animals. Some tissues are made up of just one type of cell, and others are made up of a variety of cells working together to perform a specific function. Depending on their function, tissues are located in specific areas of the plant. The basic types of tissues are conductive, meristematic, protective, and fundamental.