Endosperm is the part of a seed that acts as a food store for the developing plant embryo, usually containing starch with protein and other nutrients.

An embryo consists of precursor tissues for the leaves, stem (see hypocotyl), and root (see radicle), as well as one or more cotyledons.

A cotyledon is a part of the embryo, it often forms into the first leafs of the seedling.

Germination is the process of a seed growing into a plant. Factors that may influence germination are availability of sun light, adequate water, the amount of nutrients in the soil, and the concentration of CO2 in the air.

Day 1 of life: After many restless nights, I returned after the weekend to see that my baby plants had finally begun to show signs of not being dead. Now it is just a matter of whether I accidentally over water it again before the end of the week (pretty likely).

Day 2 of observations: The plant today had each stem grow taller, but the leaf structure has yet to change.

Day 3 of Observations ( Last Day of Project): The plants are continuing to grow, but have still yet to develop new features.

Plant Structure:

Functions:

Terminal Bud: Have special tissue, called apical meristem, consisting of cells that can divide indefinitely.

Node/internode: Lateral buds and leaves grow out of the stem at intervals called nodes; the intervals on the stem between the nodes are called internodes.

Bud: A bud itself is simply described as an undeveloped tip of the embryonic shoot, or the portion that grows up and holds the plant together.

Primary/Lateral Root: The primary root tissue is responsible for storing food, which is one of the products of photosynthesis. Lateral roots extend horizontally from the primary root (radicle) and serve to anchor the plant securely into the soil.

Root Hairs: The function of root hairs is to collect water and mineral nutrients present in the soil and take this solution up through the roots to the rest of the plant.

Leaf: Structures within a leaf convert the energy in sunlight into chemical energy that the plant can use as food.

Cuticle and Dermal Tissue: Dermal tissue is usually a single layer of cells covering the younger/softer parts of a plant. It secretes a waxy layer called the cuticle that inhibits water loss.

Nutrient, Food and Water Delivery

Water delivery is aided by the transpiration of water upwards from the roots to spores on the underside of leaves. The turgor pressure caused by the cellular absorption of this water leads to a greater maintenance of rigid stems. Water potential plays a key figure by causing the water to move towards the area with greater levels of solutes, which in hand will help the plant retain water.

Xylem and Phloem are the two vascular tissues that transport the plants nutrients and fluids such as water. All the vascular tissues within a particular plant together constitute the vascular tissue system of that plant. Vascular tissues tend to have long and slender cells that almost look like pipes. In stems and roots, the xylem typically lies closer to the interior of the stem with phloem towards the exterior of the stem.

The leaves also play a crucial role for the plant. The plants leaves act as a powerhouse for the plant and are crucial for life. The inner tissue of the leaf is called Mesophyll which contains many chloroplasts. Chloroplasts have the vital job of absorbing light waves in order to utilize the energy of the sun. Meanwhile, on the surface of the leaf are the Stomata, tiny openings that allow for the transpiration of gas into the plant. The Stomata are regulated by guard cells that can open and close the Stomata.

Family Tree and Relationships

Name: Raphanus sativus (Raddish)

Nickname: The Immortal Plant

My baby plant is dicot, this is visible because of the two embryonic leaves that form at the top of the stem when the seed sprouts.

Related Species:

The cultivated radish (Raphanus sativus), the rat-tail radish (Raphanus caudatus), and Brassica oleracea (Broccoli). All 3 of these species are from the Brassicaceae family.

Bibliography:

Works Cited

Jennings, Jazymn. "My Cute Baby Plants." : Young Plant Structure and Function. N.p., 22 Apr. 2012. Web. 26 May 2016. <http://mycutebabyplants.blogspot.com/2012/04/young-plant-structure-and-function.html>.

"Quizlet." Plant Support Document Pages 3 and 4 Flashcards. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 May 2016. <https://quizlet.com/21529761/plant-support-document-pages-3-and-4-flash-cards/>.

"Radish." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 26 May 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radish>.

"Stomata of Plants: Function, Definition & Structure." Study.com. Study.com, n.d. Web. 26 May 2016. <http://study.com/academy/lesson/stomata-of-plants-function-definition-structure.html>.