Rocket builds a tower of drinking straws taped end to end. "A water elevator!" he cheers.
Raven tilts her head. "What do you notice about your bean stem? Is it a bit like a straw?"
Nova blinks her lights. "Plants have tubes too," she says. "Which way do you think the water flows?"
Rocket points up. "To the leaves!"
Stems hold up the buds and leaves.
Stems also carry water, minerals and food around the plant.
Inside the stem are two kinds of tubes.
Xylem tubes carry water and minerals up from the roots.
Phloem tubes carry food, such as sugars, around the plant.
| Tube | What it carries | Where to |
|---|---|---|
| xylem | water and minerals | up from the roots |
| phloem | food, such as sugars | around the plant |
Not every stem stands up tall.
A potato is a fat stem that grows under the ground.
It is not a root, even though it lives in the soil.
| Statement | True or false? |
|---|---|
| Stems hold up leaves and buds. | ? |
| Xylem carries water down from the leaves to the roots. | ? |
| A potato is an underground stem. | ? |
| Phloem carries food such as sugars. | ? |
Scientists measure the same way each time.
Measure from the soil to the top of the stem.
Use centimeters, and write the date.
Keep this growth log all week.
| Day | Stem height (cm) | Number of leaves |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | ||
| Thursday | ||
| Friday |
Super stem science! Tomorrow we find out where the water goes after it reaches the leaves.