We're On Our Way!

{Structure and Function of our Young Man, explained}

He's so big already! It was only just yesterday that he sprouted!

Where has the time gone?!

Our little boy is already so big, and he's not even a mature young plant yet! As he gets older and continues to grow, we want to keep an eye on his development. At the very tip we see that adorable, peeking terminal bud. The terminal bud propagates the primary growth (vertically, that is) of the plant itself, due to the apical meristematic tissue in the bud. As he grows taller, his internodes, or the part of the stem between the nodes, will increase in length. Between each internode is a node - the location on the primary stem where the lateral shoot buds. In order for our little guy to grow larger, his buds will be hard at work developing. The buds are where meristematic tissue is present, giving rise to growth that extends the length of the stem, or branch. 

Possibly the cutest of all are high little cotyledons. Theses are his adorable first leaves, which propagate the initial plant structure. But these little leaves are fragile, and we are very protective parents. Thankfully, his coleoptiles will help keep him safe. The coleoptiles are modified leaves that form a sheath, protecting the emerging shoots of young grasses. But while the coleoptiles protect what's above, we can't forget our little guy's growth underneath the soil: his roots!

It is extremely important as parents to keep a look out for his primary root. This root is the first to develop, and extends the longest downward in the soil, taking up water so our baby boy can grown big and strong. In order to grow to a beautiful mature plant, lateral roots will also develop from the primary root. These lateral roots extend horizontally from the primary root, and function primarily in stabilizing our guy in the soil (we wouldn't him to fall over or get shaken up by some mean old wind!).

Interestingly enough, it is normally so exciting for parents to take their baby to their first hair cut! But for our baby, we would never want to make the mistake of cutting his hair! That's because his root hairs are extremely important. Root hairs allow our baby to significantly increase water absorption. These root hairs extend from all roots, and are an integral part in his health. Same goes for his adorable leaves. His leaves absorb light wavelengths for photosynthesis. Without his leaves he wouldn't have any way to eat, and would surely die! Luckily though, his leaves have cuticles - waxy protective coatings around the leaf. These cuticles help protect one of his most important "appendages." What makes this all possible is his dermal tissue. This tissue secretes the cuticle that protects his leaves, and is a small layer of cells lining the exterior of the leaf.

All told, our baby boy is so beautiful and unique! We can't wait to see him mature into a strong and handsome young man!