Plant Anatomy

The anatomy of plants, like that of animals, can be quite complex. The variations in the anatomies of plants can give some species of plants an advantage over other species in a given environment. Small variations in the structures of a plant, even at the microscopic level, can have a profound effect on the overall appearance of the organism.

The leaves of plants can vary in size, shape, and hairiness. These variations can be seen between differing species, but also within a single organism. Many species of plants have ‘sun leaves’, which are larger on the upper part of the plant. These large leaves intercept more light and can photosynthesize more.

The stem of a plant aids in competition for light. Because plants are rooted to the ground and are unable to migrate to a better location, their options to dealing with competitors are limited. One of their options for competition over light is to grow taller than their competitors. By directing more of their energy into stem growth, plants are able to become taller and broader than their competitors and intercept more light for photosynthesis.

Just as we see variation in the leaf systems of plants, we also see much, perhaps even more, variation in the root systems of plants. In this case the roots are developed to compete over resources such as water and nutrients. Some plants develop a single, large taproot that grows deep underground. This taproot not only aids in finding deep water sources in fairly arid environments, but also helps to anchor the plant. Other root systems are close to the soil surface to grab up whatever water that may hit the soil surface before it evaporates or percolates to lower soil levels.