Part Seven - Flowering Plants: Form and Function 743

34. The Plant Body 744

34.1 How Is the Plant Body Organized? 745 Roots anchor the plant and take up water and minerals 746 Stems bear buds, leaves, and flowers 746 Leaves are the primary sites of photosynthesis 747 The tissue systems support the plant’s activities 748 34.2 How Are Plant Cells Unique? 749 Cell walls may be complex in structure 749 Parenchyma cells are alive when they perform their functions 749 Collenchyma cells provide flexible support while alive 750 Sclerenchyma cells provide rigid support 750 Cells of the xylem transport water and minerals from roots to stems and leaves 750 Cells of the phloem translocate carbohydrates and other nutrients 752 34.3 How Do Meristems Build the Plant Body? 752 Plants and animals grow differently 753 A hierarchy of meristems generates a plant’s body 754 The root apical meristem gives rise to the root cap and the root primary meristems 755 The products of the root’s primary meristems become root tissues 756 The products of the stem’s primary meristems become stem tissues 757 Many eudicot stems and roots undergo secondary growth 758 34.4 How Does Leaf Anatomy Support Photosynthesis? 760