- Plants are the basis of every food-chain, in part because they make their own energy through of photosynthesis. Plants absorb energy from sunlight, then process that energy into starches, sugars and fats. Plants transform an otherwise unusable source of energy, the sun, into food.
- Plants have three basic parts. Roots anchor the plant and absorb water and nutrients. Stems support the plant and transport water and nutrients. Leaves capture sunlight, transform it into energy, then pass the energy into the stem and roots to allow the plant to grow.
- Flowers are the reproductive organs of plants. Flowers are attractive displays that lure pollinating insects with pollen or nectar. Cross-pollination between two different plants allow for a great deal of genetic diversity, making each generation different and perhaps better than the previous one.
- Seeds come in many shapes and sizes, originate in flowers and fruit, and contain the plant embryo along with food energy the new plant will need to grow. All seeds contain a new generation of plants and depend on wind, animals and insects to transport them away from the original plant and depositing them into new areas.
- Most plants grow in soil; others grow in the air and in the water. Tropical plants like orchids, bromeliads and ferns are air plants, growing on a tree or rock, absorbing water and nutrients from the air and debris caught in their roots. Other plants like lotus and lilly pads grow in the water, with their stems anchored to the ground below, and their leaves floating on the surface.
- Plants are easy to grow and study. Plants like sunflowers and beans are fast growing, easy to grow, and a great for introducing children and adults into the life cycle of plants.
