ABSTRACT
For the purposes of this book, we will consider the following four plant organs: roots, stems, leaves, and owers (reproductive structures). Note that some authors omit the ower as an organ. It is impossible to discuss adequately all the details of the anatomy and development of these organs in this short chapter. Therefore, most treatments of cell types, tissue, and organs are described in broad, widespread terms, and students are cautioned that many exceptions to our generalizations
can be found. The relationship of anatomy to the common forms and shapes, or morphology, of these organs will also be touched upon. Readers with greater interests in more exhaustive details of anatomy and development are directed to some botany and anatomy textbooks cited at the end of this chapter. Most of the material in this chapter is derived from Esau (1960) and Fahn (1990). Readers should also appreciate that while plant anatomy and morphology typically are studied through the use of static materials, such as histological sections, it is important to view these in the context that they represent growing, changing, three-dimensional organisms. In this way, an understanding of plant development can be better achieved.
