NCERT Solutions for Class 3 EVS Chapter 2 The Plant Fairy

A plant has two main parts which are –its root system and its shoot system. Root is the part of the plant that grows below the ground and Shoot is the aerial part that lies above the ground. It consists of stem, branches, leaves, flowers and fruits.

Some plants are small with soft and weak stems. They have thin and green stems and are called herbs. They have few branches and can be easily uprooted from the soil.

Plants which have smaller stems that branch off near the ground are called shrubs or bushes. They are taller than herbs and shorter than a tree. They have thin, woody stems. For example, rose, hibiscus, Tulsi and henna etc.

Some plants grow very tall and big, like peepal, coconut, gulmohar, etc. They are called trees. They have a thick, hard stem called the trunk. This single main stem or the trunk gives rise to many branches that bear leaves, flowers and fruits. Some trees are branchless like coconut tree; they have only one stem which bear leaves, flowers and fruits all by itself. Banyan, Mango, Neem and Oak are some examples of trees.

There are plants like money plant which have very weak stem and need support to grow vertically. These are called climbers. pea plant, grapevine and money plant etc.

Plants like pumpkin, watermelon and strawberry have very weak, long and thin stems. They can neither stand erect nor support the heavy weight of their fruits. They spread on the ground and are called creepers.

Trees or all plants use the energy of sunlight during the process of photosynthesis they take in carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and water from the ground and release oxygen into the air. Thus they give us oxygen to breathe. When plants prepare their food, they give out oxygen and take up carbon dioxide from the air. Thus, they give us clean air to breathe.

The main function of the roots is to fix the plant firmly into the ground and spread out holding it tightly. They absorb water and minerals from the soil and bind the soil together with the plant keeping it at one place.

Some plants are medicinal plants as they give medicines to us like neem, tulsi, eucalyptus, and jamun are grown for their medicinal value. Eucalyptus oil is used for treating common cold. Neem is good for skin infections.

A beverage is a drink other than water that is drinkable. We get some beverages from plants like tea, coffee, sugar beet, sugar cane, lemon grass, coconut etc. The crops grown by the farmers to get these drinks are called beverage crops.

The leaves are responsible for making food for the whole plant to eat. The leaves use sunlight, water from the stem and carbon dioxide from the air to make food. The lower side of the leaf has many tiny openings which are called stomata. The food made by leaves is sent to all parts of the plant through the stem. Green leaves are thus the food factory of a plant. Green plants are the only ones which can make their own food.

Plants store their extra food in fruits, stems, roots, and leaves. Storing the food helps them to use it in winter and survive because there is very little sunlight available and so they photosynthesize less. Plants store their food in the form of starch in various parts of them.

A stem performs various functions in a plant. It supports the branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits and helps the plant to stand straight. It transports water and minerals from the roots to the leaves and other parts of plants. It also transports food from leaves to different parts of the plant. Some of them also store food such as in sugarcane and lotus plants. Stems such as potato & ginger are underground stems.

Small mango plant will grow into a tall plant with a thick hard stem called trunk so it is a tree. It is a deep-rooted plant with a thick and hard trunk.

Shrubs are plants of medium size with many branches growing close to the ground making them bushy. So, they are planted as a hedge or barrier to keep the surroundings beautiful and safe. Shrubs are planted at regular intervals to form a continuous screen called a hedge which serves the purpose of compound wall, gives shelter from strong winds, ensures privacy, and forms a background screen for a flower garden, vegetable garden etc.

Edible plant stems are one part of plants that are eaten by humans. Stem vegetables are plant stems used as vegetables. They are the edible stalks of plants when the stalk/stem is the main part of the vegetable. Examples are lotus stem, potato, onion, ginger etc.

Seeds contain baby plants which can grow into a new plant under favourable conditions of water, warmth, air and soil. There can be any number of seeds in a fruit. Seeds are also eaten by us, for example- rice, pulses and grains.

A fruit is the soft, pulpy part of a flowering plant that contains seeds. There can be a number of seeds in a fruit. Plants store food in their fruits. Fruits are the source of vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates and minerals. They make our meal delicious. Fruits contain seeds which give rise to new plants.

Flowers are the part of the plant that is responsible for making the food. The flower has both female parts, called the pistil, and male parts, called the stamens. They work together to fertilize the plant and produce seeds. Flowers of different colours and shapes. It is part of a plant that is often brightly coloured and provides the pollen that is moved from plant to plant for pollination.

Flowers are the gift of nature and look more beautiful when they are on the plant so we should avoid plucking them so that all visitors to the park and garden can enjoy their beauty. If we pluck flowers no seeds would be formed and the plant may become extinct.