Individual images of blossoms, fruits, stems, seeds, leaves, roots, and more, illustrate the different forms and functions of plant tissues.
BarkWoody plants have a tough exterior tissue called bark that helps protect the stem of the plant underneath. It can take different forms on different species, and thus is useful for identification. Branches, Stems and LeavesThe patterns of leaves and how they attach to stems and branches differs for each species. This collection contains images of branches, stems, and leaves that can be used for identification; as well as images that highlight other characteristics, such as plant defenses or diseases. FlowersAt least 130 million years ago, a group of plants evolved structures out of leaves and stems that were meant to entice wasps, bees, and other organisms to feed at and then to take pollen with them to exchange with other plants. Today vast numbers of plant species produce incredible flowers for that purpose - as shown here in this image collection. |
Fruits, Nuts, and SeedsPlants invest heavily in the next generation, whether by creating thousands of windborne seeds, by providing protective packaging (nuts), or by creating edible tissues (fruits) that entice animals to carry their seeds to potential new habitats. Roots & RhizomesThis category includes roots, which anchor plants and draw nutrients from the soil, and rhizomes, a type of stem that grows underground, as well as variations of these plant structures, such as bulbs and holdfasts. |
