From Envirowiki

A plant is a class (kingdom) of living organism which includes trees, vines, shrubs, sea weeds etc. Plants are usually characterised by their ability to photosynthesise.

Plants cover nearly every part of the land surface of earth, with the exception of some deserts, as well as areas that are too cold, including polar regions, and high mountains. Mountains often have a "tree line", above which tall trees will not grow, although smaller plants and shrubs may continue to grow higher than the tree line. In some places in the world, the tree line is lifting due to climate change^[1].

Plants often have leaves (or blades), which they use breath and to photosynthesise chemicals such as sugars using light (usually from the sun). Roots draw nutrients such as nitrogen from the soil, or sometimes from other plants, or water. These chemicals are transported to the leaves, via a trunk and branches in some plants.

Plants are at the beginning of many food chains, as they provide food for herbivores and omivores, which are then eaten by carnivorous predators. Included in these are humans - plants form large parts of our diets - we eat their leaves, roots, seeds, trunks, flowers, and fruits. We also use them to feed our domesticated food animals, which are usually herbivores.

[edit] references

1. ↑ Flannery, Tim (2001-01-10). The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth. Grove Press, 400. ISBN 0802142923.