7.02 Honors Anatomy of a Plant

The Honors student will:

• classify the three basic types of plant cells
• relate the structure and function of the three types of plant cells
• describe the structure and function of the stomata cells

Your work so far has been excellent and we are very pleased to offer you an additional mission—a more delicate project. Although you've helped us discover quite a lot about cell parts, we need more details.

As you now know, plant cells have a general form. We've discovered, however, that there are a few additional cells inside a plant that are designed for special jobs. This is where we need your help.

Specialized Plant Cells

Because there are many jobs to be done within a plant, there are cells which are especially adapted in various ways to perform the work necessary to keep the plant alive.

Your assignment is to investigate and record observations about four of these types of specialized cells:

• parenchyma cells
• collenchyma cells
• sclerenchyma cells
• guard cells

Web Research

Your observations of each of these cells should include the following:

• general physical characteristics
• a picture
• where the cell is located in a plant
• its special function

The way you deliver your report is up to you. Be creative.

You can create a podcast, a video, a web page, a digital poster, or a presentation; the choice is yours. Discuss your choice with your instructor if you have any questions.

Use these web resources.

Site 1: Plant Cell Types

Site 2: The Stomata

Site 3: Plant Structure and Function
(Scroll down a bit on the page.)

Site 4: Plant Cells and Their Structure