Herbs, Shrubs and Trees: An Overview
Plants are eukaryotes and also need energy for their growth. Through the process of photosynthesis, they prepare their food. Based on their size and structure, some plants are tall and powerful, while others are small. Plants are classified into 3 types: herbs, shrubs and trees. A herb is a non-woody plant that has an inexperienced and smooth stem with few branches on it. Shrub plants are taller than herbs and have stems branching out at their base. A tree is a woody plant that has many branches on a stem.
Types of Plants
Based on the Morphological Characteristics:
There are 3 types of plants:
1. Herbs: These plants have soft, green and spoilable stems.
Characteristics of Herbs:
Herbs are small plants with soft stems.
Their stems are delicate and tender.
These plants are short.
Their lifespan is very short, which means they can survive for 1 or 2 seasons only.
Examples of Herbs: Mint, grass, rice, maize etc.
Herbs Plant - Cilantro
2. Shrubs: Shrubs plants have woody stems with equal-sized branches arising from the stem just above the soil.
Characteristics of Shrubs:
They are smaller than trees.
These plants are around 3 metres tall.
They grow bushy because their branches are grown immediately above the soil.
These plants can grow in all types of soil.
Shrubs plants are seasonal plants and also grow well in a sunny environment.
Examples of Shrubs: Jasmine, tulsi, pomegranate, china rose etc.
Shrubs
3. Trees: They are big and tall plants that have a hard woody stem which is called a trunk. Trees have leaves, woody branches and twigs above the ground. The tree names are mango tree, coconut tree, palm tree, banyan tree etc. Palm and coconut trees do not have branches but still, they come under the trees category.
Characteristics of Trees:
They have a strong and single woody stem called a trunk.
Trees live for longer years.
They can grow tall.
Examples of Trees: Neem, banyan, palm etc.
Neem Tree
Based on their Growth Habits:
Climbers and creepers are unique plants that are classified on their growth habits. Some plants take support to grow and some crawl on the ground.
1. Climber Plants
These plants have thin, weak and long stems that grow with the help of walls, sticks, trees etc.
Characteristics of climbers:
They have flexible stems with many soft tissues.
These soft tissues help them to grow faster.
They have tendrils to climb the walls, sticks etc.
Xylem vessels are long and wide in them.
Climbers cannot stand upright. Hence, they need support.
Climber’s Example: Grapevine, money plant, cucumber etc.
Climber
2. Creeper Plants
They grow horizontally along with the ground because they cannot stand upright.
Characteristics of Creeper:
They have soft stems which cannot allow them to stand upright.
They creep along with the soil or ground.
They live for 1 year or longer.
Creeper’s Example: Strawberry, watermelon, pumpkin etc.
Creepers
Interesting Facts
Egyptians studied herbs and then used them in religious and medicinal functions as far back as 3500 B.C.
Saffron is a very expensive spice in the world which is produced in Kashmir in the highest amount.
Plants can guide us. In northern temperate climates, moss grows on the trunk of the tree. So, we can use them to guide our navigation.
Key Features
Plants are multicellular eukaryotes.
They have 6 basic parts: roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds.
They have reproductive organs to reproduce asexually.
Life would not be possible without plants.
Plants prepare their food on their own through the photosynthesis process.
FAQs on Herbs, Shrubs and Trees
1. What are the main differences between herbs, shrubs, and trees?
The primary differences between herbs, shrubs, and trees are based on their stem characteristics, size, and lifespan.
- Herbs: These are small plants with soft, green, and non-woody stems. They usually have a short lifespan. Examples include mint and coriander.
- Shrubs: These are medium-sized, bushy plants. They have hard, woody stems that branch out near the base. Their lifespan is longer than herbs. Examples include rose and hibiscus.
- Trees: These are tall and large plants with a thick, hard, and woody main stem called a trunk. The trunk branches out much above the ground. They have a very long lifespan. Examples include mango and neem.
2. Can you give some common examples of herbs, shrubs, and trees?
Certainly. Here are some common examples for each plant category:
- Examples of Herbs: Tomato, Basil (Tulsi), Wheat, Grass, and Sunflower.
- Examples of Shrubs: Rose, Lemon, Jasmine, Hibiscus, and Pomegranate.
- Examples of Trees: Mango, Banyan, Neem, Coconut, and Pine.
3. What is the difference between creepers and climbers?
The main difference lies in how they grow. Both have weak stems, but creepers spread horizontally along the ground as they cannot stand upright. Examples include pumpkin and watermelon. In contrast, climbers take the support of nearby objects (like walls, sticks, or other plants) to grow vertically upwards. Examples include money plant and grapevine.
4. What are the main functions of a stem in a plant?
The stem is a crucial part of a plant that performs several vital functions:
- Support: It provides structural support to the plant, holding up the branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits.
- Transport: It acts as a pipeline, transporting water and minerals from the roots to the leaves and other parts.
- Food Conduction: It carries the food prepared by the leaves (through photosynthesis) to different parts of the plant, including the roots for storage.
5. How can you identify a plant's root type just by looking at its leaves?
You can predict the type of root system by observing the pattern of veins on a plant's leaves, a concept known as leaf venation. If the leaves have reticulate venation (a net-like pattern of veins on both sides of the midrib), the plant will have a taproot system. If the leaves show parallel venation (veins run parallel to each other), the plant will have a fibrous root system.
6. Why are most leaves green and what is their primary role?
Most leaves are green due to the presence of a pigment called chlorophyll. This pigment is essential for the plant's survival because its primary role is to absorb sunlight for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process where plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create their own food (glucose) and release oxygen into the atmosphere. Therefore, leaves are the main food-making factories for the plant.
7. Why do some plants like roses and cacti have thorns or spines?
Thorns and spines are modified plant parts that serve as a crucial defence mechanism. They protect the plant from being eaten by grazing animals (herbivores). The sharp structures make it difficult and painful for an animal to chew on the leaves, stems, or fruits, thus ensuring the plant's survival.
8. Why is a mushroom not classified as a plant?
A mushroom is not classified as a plant because it belongs to the Fungi kingdom. The key difference is how they get nutrition. Plants are autotrophs, meaning they produce their own food through photosynthesis using chlorophyll. Mushrooms lack chlorophyll and are heterotrophs; they get their nutrients by decomposing dead organic matter, making them fundamentally different from plants.
9. How are humans dependent on herbs, shrubs, and trees in daily life?
Humans are heavily dependent on these plants for survival and daily needs. Herbs like mint and coriander are used for food and flavouring. Many herbs and shrubs, such as Tulsi and Aloe Vera, have medicinal properties. Shrubs like cotton provide us with fibre for clothing. Trees are our primary source of wood for furniture and construction, fruits for nutrition, and most importantly, they produce the oxygen we breathe.
10. What is the main difference between a taproot and a fibrous root system?
The main difference between the two root systems is their structure. A taproot system consists of a single, thick main root that grows deep into the soil, with smaller lateral roots branching off from it. This is common in plants like mango and carrot. A fibrous root system consists of a dense cluster of many thin, thread-like roots that arise from the base of the stem and do not grow as deep. This is found in plants like grass and wheat.
