Germination

  • Germination: plant begins to grow from a seed
  • Primary root: taproot, grows straight down
    • Gravitropism: grows towards gravity
    • Statocyte: starchy, loose, heavy blobs, settle on the bottom, root always grows in that direction
  • Lateral roots branches out
  • Root hair helps absorption, increases surface area
  • Cotyledon: seedling’s very first leaves, initial food supply
    • When used up, seedling had true foliage leaves to make food
  • Apical meristem: tissues under the cap of every root and branch
    • Can create any type of plant cell (primary growth)
  • Roots corkscrew through the soil, secreting mucus from root caps, can dodge rocks