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The Stem of a Plant

The main parts of a flowering plant are the roots, the stem, the leaves and the flowers. The stem connects the roots to the rest of the plant.

Stiff stems give support

Stiff stems give support

  • The stem is usually stiff to give the plant support.
    • Support means it holds the plant up.
    • The trunk of a tree is its stem.
Travelling up the stem

Travelling up the stem

  • Nutrients and water travel through the stem.
    • Nutrients and water travel from the roots to the other parts of the plant.
Water through a stem experiment

Water through a stem experiment

  • You can see how water travels through a plant.
    • Use a plant like a celery plant.
    • Place the bottom end in water that has food colouring added.
    • After a while, you can see the coloured water has moved up the plant stem.
    • The ends of the celery plant will become coloured.
Flexible stems

Flexible stems

  • Some plants have flexible stems.
    • Flexible means bendy.
  • Plants with flexible stems often grow around other plants or solid things for support.
  • Runner beans are an example of a plant with flexible stems.
Jump to other topics
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Year 3: Plants

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Year 3: Animals (Including Humans)

3

Year 3: Rocks

3.1

Rocks on Earth

4

Year 3: Light

5

Year 3: Forces & Magnets

6

Year 4: Living Things & Their Habitats

7

Year 4: Animals, Including Humans

8

Year 4: States of Matter

9

Year 4: Sound

10

Year 4: Electricity

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