Plants can be grouped into trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, and vines. Trees are tall, woody plants with a single main stem called a trunk. Shrubs are woody plants that are shorter than trees and have multiple stems. Herbs are non-woody plants that often have soft stems. Grasses form narrow leaves and grow in clusters or mats.

A typical tree has roots, a trunk, branches, leaves, and often flowers or cones. Roots anchor the tree and take in water and nutrients from the soil. The trunk supports the tree and carries water and food between roots and leaves. Branches grow from the trunk and hold leaves. Leaves make food for the tree using sunlight.

Word/Phrase	Definition
root	The part of a plant that grows underground and takes in water and nutrients.
trunk	The main woody stem of a tree that supports branches and leaves.
branch	A woody part that grows from the trunk and holds leaves.
leaf	A flat or needle-like part that makes food for the plant using sunlight.
cone	A structure on some trees that holds seeds, often found on pines and firs.

Many common plants fit into familiar types such as deciduous trees, evergreens, grasses, and ferns. Deciduous trees lose their leaves in certain seasons. Evergreens keep their leaves or needles all year. Grasses include plants like wheat and bamboo that have jointed stems. Ferns are non-flowering plants with feathery leaves called fronds.

Word/Phrase	Definition
deciduous	A plant that drops its leaves at a certain time of year.
evergreen	A plant that keeps its leaves or needles all year.
fern	A plant with fronds that reproduces with spores, not flowers.
grass	A plant with narrow leaves that often forms lawns, fields, or meadows.

A flower is the part of many plants that contains the structures for making seeds. Flowers often have petals, which are colored parts that can attract pollinators. The center of the flower may include stamens and a pistil, which are involved in making seeds. Some flowers grow alone, and others grow in clusters called inflorescences.

Word/Phrase	Definition
petal	A colored part of a flower that can attract pollinators.
stamen	The part of a flower that makes pollen.
pistil	The part of a flower that can receive pollen and help form seeds.
inflorescence	A group or cluster of flowers on a plant.

Leaves come in many shapes such as needle-like, broad, lobed, and compound. Needle-like leaves are thin and pointed, found on many conifers. Broad leaves are wide and flat, common on many deciduous trees. Lobed leaves have deep indentations but remain a single leaf. Compound leaves are divided into leaflets that together form one leaf.

Word/Phrase	Definition
needle	A thin, pointed leaf shape typical of pines and similar trees.
broad leaf	A wide, flat leaf shape common on maples and oaks.
lobed	A leaf shape with deep cuts or sections, like an oak leaf.
compound leaf	A leaf made up of multiple leaflets attached to a single stalk.

Plants grow by making new cells at tips of roots and shoots. Many plants also grow new leaves and branches during a growing season. Some plants live for one year, some for two years, and some for many years. The terms annual, biennial, and perennial describe these life spans.

Word/Phrase	Definition
annual	A plant that completes its life cycle in one year.
biennial	A plant that completes its life cycle in two years.
perennial	A plant that lives for more than two years and often regrows each season.

Plant vocabulary includes categories like trees, shrubs, herbs, and grasses, along with key parts such as roots, trunks, branches, and leaves. Knowing terms for flower parts, leaf shapes, and plant life spans helps describe and identify plants accurately. This language is useful for talking about nature, gardens, and the environment.