Since plants lack a skeleton, what gives them structure and support?
This is for my science, exact question:
"Since plants lack a skeleton, what provides structure and support for a redwood tree (112m) or a black tree fern (24m)?" In other words, what holds it up?
6 Responses
Lemony
04 Feb 2011
Elisa
04 Feb 2011
Take a look at what the differences are between plant cells and animal cells. There are not too many.
Plants cells have cell walls, which animals don’t. The cell wall is very strong and rigid.
Plant cells have an enormous vacuole instead of little ones. The vacuole gives the cell the stability it needs so it doesn’t collapse.
Imagine a box with two open ends. It would just fold up like a pop up book, unless you stuck a balloon (or something similar) inside. That’s the idea.
novangelis
04 Feb 2011
Cellulose, the material that forms the cell wall, is laid down as fibers. This is what makes wood strong enough to build houses.
Manoj
04 Feb 2011
The xylem n phloem vessels act as the support system in plants.
Ellieze
04 Feb 2011
thats your problem going 2 school now lol!
Chris
04 Feb 2011
all plants have cells surrounded by a cell wall which is made if cellulose. cellulose is a hard a tough compound that gives structure and support to the plant. the cell wall is rigid and that is what gives plants their support.
Plant cell have cell walls – that are fairly strong, but most of a plants turgidity comes from full water vacuoles within the plant cell. As such when a plant lacks water it begins to sag.