🌱 1. Types of Plants Based on Height and Stem
Plants come in many sizes and shapes. Based on their height, the type of stem, and
branching pattern, we classify plants into three main types:
| Type |
Features |
Examples |
| Herbs 🌿 |
Very small plants; soft, green stems; usually no woody tissue; live for one or two seasons only |
Wheat, grass, mint, coriander, tomato, spinach (palak) |
| Shrubs 🌳 |
Medium-sized plants; woody stem near the base; branches start from near the base; harder than herbs
but shorter than trees |
Rose, tulsi (basil), henna (mehendi), cotton, hibiscus (gudhal) |
| Trees 🌲 |
Tall plants; very thick, hard, woody stem called trunk; branches start high up;
live for many years (decades to centuries) |
Mango, banyan, neem, coconut, peepal, oak |
Special Plants:
- Climbers: Weak-stemmed plants that grow upward by taking support from other plants
or structures. They use special organs called tendrils to grip. Examples: Money
plant, grapevine, pea, cucumber, bitter gourd (karela)
- Creepers: Plants with weak stems that run horizontally along the ground — they
don't climb. Examples: Watermelon, pumpkin, sweet potato, strawberry
📸 Image Prompt
A neat educational poster showing 5 plant types side by side on a white background:
(1) Herb — small green coriander/basil plant with soft stem, (2) Shrub — rose bush with woody base stem
and branches, (3) Tree — tall mango tree with thick trunk and branches high up, (4) Climber — pea plant
growing up a fence using curly tendrils, (5) Creeper — pumpkin plant with long stems spreading
horizontally on ground. Each plant labeled boldly. Bright natural colors, flat educational illustration
style.
Fig. 7.1 — Five types of plants: Herb, Shrub, Tree, Climber, Creeper
🌿 2. The Stem — Functions and Types
The stem is the main body of a plant that grows upwards. It connects roots to leaves and
carries materials between them.
Functions of the Stem:
- Provides support to leaves, flowers, and fruits (holds the plant upright)
- Transports water and minerals from roots to leaves (through xylem vessels)
- Transports food (sugar) made in leaves to the rest of the plant (through phloem)
- Some stems store food (potato, ginger)
- Some stems carry out photosynthesis (when green)
🧪 NCERT Activity: Stem conducts water
Experiment: Put a white flower (or leafy stem) in a glass of coloured water (add red/blue
ink). Leave it for a few hours.
Observation: The petals (or leaves) slowly change colour — the coloured water has been
conducted up through the stem!
Conclusion: The stem transports water upward. The vascular tissue (xylem) inside the stem
carries water.
🍃 3. The Leaf — Parts and Functions
Leaves are the food factories of a plant! They make food through photosynthesis. Let us learn the parts of a leaf:
Parts of a Leaf:
- Leaf base: The part where the leaf attaches to the stem
- Petiole: The stalk-like part connecting leaf blade to stem (the "handle" of the
leaf)
- Leaf blade (Lamina): The broad, flat green part — where photosynthesis happens
- Midrib: The main central vein running through the middle of the leaf
- Veins: Network of lines on the leaf — carry water and food
- Margin: The edge/border of the leaf (can be smooth, wavy, or toothed)
📸 Image Prompt
A detailed labeled botanical diagram of a single leaf on white background: showing
the leaf base (where it attaches to the stem/petiole), petiole (green stalk), lamina/blade (broad flat
green area), midrib (thick central vein running center), smaller branching veins across the leaf
surface, and the leaf margin (edge). Each part has a clear arrow line pointing to it with a bold label.
Scientific educational style, bright green leaf, clean white background.
Fig. 7.2 — Parts of a leaf
Venation — Pattern of Veins
| Type of Venation |
Pattern |
Examples |
Seed type |
| Parallel Venation |
All veins run parallel to each other (like parallel lines) |
Grass, wheat, maize, bamboo, banana leaf, sugarcane |
Monocot plants |
| Reticulate (Network) Venation |
Veins form a network (like a net), with one main midrib and many smaller branches |
Mango, neem, peepal, rose, tulsi, hibiscus |
Dicot plants |
📸 Image Prompt
Two leaf illustrations side by side: Left leaf shows parallel venation — a long
grass/banana-type leaf with many parallel veins running from base to tip, labeled "Parallel Venation
(e.g., Grass, Wheat)". Right leaf shows reticulate venation — a broad mango/neem type leaf with a
central midrib and branching network of smaller veins, labeled "Reticulate Venation (e.g., Mango,
Neem)". Clean educational botanical illustration style, green leaves on white background, prominent
labeled veins.
Fig. 7.3 — Parallel venation vs Reticulate (net) venation
🍃 Photosynthesis — How Leaves Make Food
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants make their own food using:
🌟 Sunlight (energy source)
💧 Water (absorbed by roots, carried up by stem)
🌬️ Carbon dioxide (CO₂) (from air, enters through tiny pores called
stomata)
Product: 🍬 Glucose (sugar) — food for the plant + 💨 Oxygen (O₂) released
into the air
Word Equation:
Water + Carbon dioxide → Glucose + Oxygen (in presence of sunlight and chlorophyll)
Chlorophyll is the green pigment in leaves that captures sunlight for photosynthesis.
That's why leaves are green!
🔬 Transpiration — Water Loss
Plants absorb far more water than they need for photosynthesis. The extra water evaporates
through tiny pores on leaves called stomata. This process is called transpiration.
Stomata (singular: stoma):
- Tiny pore-like openings on the surface (mostly underside) of leaves
- Surrounded by special cells called guard cells that open and close the stomata
- Open during the day (for CO₂ entry and O₂ exit during photosynthesis)
- Water vapour also exits through stomata (transpiration)
🌱 4. The Root — Types and Functions
Roots are the underground part of the plant. They are the first part to emerge when a seed germinates.
Functions of Roots:
- Fixation: Anchors the plant firmly in the soil
- Absorption: Absorbs water and dissolved minerals from the soil (through root hair
cells)
- Conduction: Transports water upward to the stem
- Storage: Some roots store food (carrot, radish, sweet potato, beetroot)
Two Types of Root Systems:
| Type |
Description |
Examples |
Relation to leaf type |
| Taproot System |
One main thick root (taproot) grows deep down, with smaller lateral roots branching off from it |
Mango, neem, bean, gram, carrot, radish, mustard |
Dicot plants (reticulate venation) |
| Fibrous Root System |
Many thin roots of roughly equal thickness arise from the base of the stem — no main root |
Grass, wheat, rice, maize, onion, sugarcane, banana |
Monocot plants (parallel venation) |
Parallel venation (grass, wheat) → Fibrous root system
Reticulate venation (mango, neem) → Taproot system
This is a key NCERT pattern and a very common exam question!
📸 Image Prompt
Two plant root system diagrams side-by-side: Left shows a taproot system
(mustard/carrot plant) with one thick main root going deep into the soil and thin lateral roots
branching off it, labeled "Taproot System". Right shows a fibrous root system (grass/wheat plant) with
many thin, equal-sized roots spreading from the base of the stem, labeled "Fibrous Root System". Both
plants shown with their stems and leaves, soil cross-section shown below. Clean labeled educational
diagram on white background.
Fig. 7.4 — Taproot system vs Fibrous root system
🌸 5. The Flower — Parts and Functions
Flowers are not just beautiful — they are the reproductive organs of the plant! A flower
contains both male and female parts (in most flowers).
Parts of a Flower:
- Sepals (Calyx): Green leaf-like parts at the base of the flower that protect the
bud before it opens. Together called the calyx.
- Petals (Corolla): Brightly coloured parts that attract insects for pollination.
Together called the corolla.
- Stamen (Male part): The male reproductive organ, consisting of:
- Anther — produces pollen grains
- Filament — the thin stalk supporting the anther
- Pistil/Carpel (Female part): The female reproductive organ, consisting of:
- Stigma — sticky top part that receives pollen
- Style — connects stigma to ovary
- Ovary — contains ovules (future seeds), becomes fruit after fertilization
📸 Image Prompt
A detailed labeled cross-sectional diagram of a flower on white background showing:
sepals (green, at base), petals (colorful, pink/yellow), stamen (filament as thin stalk + anther showing
pollen grains), and pistil (stigma at top, style as connecting tube, ovary at bottom with ovules
inside). Each part labeled with a clear arrow line. Scientific botanical illustration style, vibrant
colors, educational clarity for Class 6 students.
Fig. 7.5 — Parts of a flower with labels
📝 6. Quick Revision
- Herbs = small, soft stem (coriander); Shrubs = woody base stem
(rose); Trees = tall, woody trunk (mango)
- Climbers use tendrils to climb (grapevine); Creepers grow on
ground (pumpkin)
- Stem → supports, conducts water up (xylem) and food down (phloem)
- Parallel venation → monocot → fibrous roots (grass, wheat)
- Reticulate venation → dicot → taproot (mango, neem)
- Photosynthesis: Water + CO₂ + Sunlight → Glucose + O₂ (in leaves, using
chlorophyll)
- Stomata = tiny pores on leaves for gas exchange and transpiration
- Root functions: fix plant, absorb water + minerals, store food (carrot)
- Flower parts: Sepals (protect bud), Petals (attract insects), Stamen (male:
anther+filament), Pistil (female: stigma+style+ovary)
