Plants: Over, Under, Inside, and Out

Plants live in two different worlds. They live above the ground with sunlight, fresh air, and many other living things. Plants also live in the earth. There they are surrounded by darkness. It is cool and wet; earthworms are all around. The part of a plant that is underground looks much different than the part that is above the ground. All the parts of the plant work together to help the plant thrive.


Underground, a plant is nothing more than a bunch of roots. There may be many roots that spread all around the base of the plant, or a plant may only have one large root. Roots help to hold the plant firmly in the ground. Roots are anchors that keep the plant from getting blown away by strong winds or washed away by water. Roots also act as a straw. They pull water and minerals from the soil into the plant.


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