The Maize Plant (Guinea Grass) as a Biological Specimen.

Classification according to stem structure

• Herbaceous plant

Classification according to life cycle

• Annual plant

Classification according to agriculture

• Food crop

Biological classification.

• Division Angiospermophyta

Reason:

• Produce flowers
• Produce fruits containing seeds

Class Monocotyledoneae

Reasons:

• Presence of leaves with parallel venation
• Possess narrow leaves
• Leaves lack a petiole
• Presence leave sheath
• Possess fibrous roots

General observable characteristics

• Narrow leaves
• Veins
• Parallel venation
• Leave sheath
• Pointed end of the leaf
• Fibrous roots
• Hairs
• Nodes and internodes are covered.

Adaptation of the specimen (maize plant or guinea grass) to its mode of life

• Possess narrow leaves to reduce excessive water transpiration
• Erect leaves to prevent the direct effect of sunlight to reduce overheating.
• Hairs present on leaves and stems to reduce transpiration
• The leaf sheath provides support to the plant to withstand wind.
• Leaves roll to reduce the rate of transpiration

Remove one leaf, draw, and label fully.

Describe the leaf of the specimen (maize plant or guinea grass)

• Narrow
• Elongated
• Pointed apex/tip
• Parallel venation
• Smooth margin
• Leaf sheath
• Ligule

Classification of the leaves of the specimen (maize plant)

Arrangement:

• Alternate

Type:

• Simple leaf

Shape:

• Linear

Margin:

• Entire or Smooth

Venation:

• Parallel venation

Tip:

• Acuminate

Base:

• Sheathing base

Functions of the leaves of the specimen (maize/guinea grass)

• Photosynthesis
• Excretion
• Transpiration
• Gaseous exchange
• Temperature regulation

Adaptation of the leaf of the specimen (maze plant) to photosynthesis.

• It is thin, enabling carbon dioxide to diffuse easily to the mesophyll cells
• It has chlorophyll, which traps light energy for photosynthesis.
• An extensive network of veins supplies the photosynthetic cells with water and minerals and removes the photosynthetic products.

Adaptation of a maize flower to pollination

• The Maize plant is pollinated by the wind.
• Flowers are unisexual but are born on a dioecious plant
• Stamen and carpel occur in separate parts of the plant.
• Male flowers occur at the apex of the stem with long filaments, making stamens hang loosely out of the flowers.
• Pollen grains are powdery
• The female inflorescence is referred to as a cob and is found in the leaf axil.
• Long styles make the stigma hang out of the cob
• Stigmas are large and feathery so that they can catch pollen grains in the air
• The stamens mature before the carpels, such that self-pollination is impossible.
• Mature pollen grains are shed in the air and are caught by protruding feathery stigmas.
• Leading to cross-pollination.

Similarities Between Maize Plant and Guinea Grass

• Narrow leaves
• Parallel venation
• Leaf sheath
• Ligule
• Inflorescence
• Dull flower
• Sift stem
• Presence of epidermal hairs
• Fibrous roots

Differences Between Maize Plant and Guinea Grass.

Differences Between Panicum sp. (Guinea Grass) showing at least three leaf bases and Talinum sp. (Water Plant) showing at least three leaf bases.

Difference Between the Tridax /Talinum Plant and the Maize Plant.

Follow to join WhatsApp Channel

Telegram Channel