ICSE Class 6 Biology Chapter 5 Useful Plants and Animals

Useful Plants And Animals

Syllabus

Some useful plant and animal products. Let us describe them one by one.

You have, in the previous lessons, studied the interrelationship between plants and animals. All animals depend upon plants for their food. Human beings, too depend upon plants and animals not only for their food but also for various other needs.

Plants are useful to us in many ways. They provide us with the basic requirements for survival. The most important necessities of humans are food, clothing and shelter. These requirements are largely fulfilled by the plants.

Plants keep our environment free of extra CO2 by using it for preparing their food.

In addition to depending on plants for food, some animals and human beings also depend on other animals for food. Beside food, human beings also get several other valuable products from animals.

Useful Plants

Plants are the main source of food in the form of cereals (rice, wheat, etc.), pulses, vegetables, fruits oils, spices and beverages. They are also the source of clothing, medicines and various industrial products.

1. Plants As Sources Of Food

Cereals

Cereals, also called grains, constitute the main food.

Rice, wheat and maize are the cereals (Fig. 5.1) used as food by majority of the people, whereas cereals like barley, oat and millet are eaten by very few people.

Cereals are rich sources of energy.

Image: Fig. 5.1 Cereals - showing Rice, Wheat, and Maize

Pulses

Pea, gram, bean, cowpea, kidney beans ("moth") and lentils ("masoor") are all pulses (Fig. 5.2). They are also called leguminous crops because their seeds are enclosed in pods called legumes. Pulses are rich in proteins which are required for body building, growth and repair of the body cells. Proteins also provide energy.

Image: Fig. 5.2 Various pulses - showing Gram, Bean, Lentils, Cowpea (Lobia), Kidney Beans, and Peas

Vegetables

Vegetable ordinarily means vegetative parts of a plant such as roots, stems or leaves that are cooked for meals. Certain fruits are also used as vegetables such as tomatoes and brinjals.

They provide us minerals and vitamins which are essential nutrients to protect us from various diseases.

Some common vegetables provided by different parts of the plants are:

Roots: Carrot, turnip, radish, beetroot, etc.

Stem modified: Potatoes, onion, ginger, corn "arvi", etc.

Leaves: Spinach, cabbage, lettuce, etc.

Fruits: Gourd, pumpkin, tomatoes, brinjal, lady's finger, etc.

Image: Fig. 5.3 Vegetables - showing Cucumber, Tomato, Carrot, Brinjal, Turnip, Lady's Finger, Cauliflower, Potatoes, and Cabbage

Fruits

Fruits (Fig. 5.4) are generally eaten as such (uncooked). Orange, grapes, mango, apple, watermelon, banana, etc., are some common fruits. They are rich in vitamins, minerals and sugar. Fruits are not only protective but they also provide energy.

Image: Fig. 5.4 Some common fruits - showing Banana, Mango, Grapes, Apple, and Papaya

Oils

Seeds of groundnut, mustard, coconut, sunflower, soybean, sesame, etc., provide oil. Oil is an important cooking medium. Fats and oils also provide energy.

Spices

Spices (Fig. 5.5) are obtained from the plants. They have little nutritive value but they add taste and flavour to the food. Certain spices have medicinal value too.

Some common spices provided by different parts of the plants are as follows:

Stem: Ginger, turmeric, onion, garlic.

Bark of Tree: Cinnamon ("Dalchini").

Leaves: Tejpatta, coriander, mint.

Flower bud: Clove ("Loung").

Flower part: Saffron.

Fruits: Chillies, pepper ("Kali mirch"), fennel ("Saunf").

Image: Fig. 5.5 Some common spices

Beverages

Tea (Fig. 5.6), coffee, cocobeans, etc. act as stimulants. They have caffeine which stimulates our nerves and reactivates us.

Image: Fig. 5.6 Tea garden

Teacher's Note

When you visit your local market, observe the different vegetables and fruits sold. Try to identify which part of the plant each vegetable comes from, connecting market produce to the plant parts you learned about today.

2. Plants As Sources Of Cloth

Plant fibres

Cotton (Fig. 5.7) is obtained from the "hair" of the seed coat of the cotton plant. Cotton fibres are used for weaving cloth.

Image: Fig. 5.7 Fibre-yielding plants - showing Cotton and Flax

Hemp and jute are used for making ropes, bags and carpets.

Jute fibre is obtained from the stem. Finer threads of jute are used to make dress material.

Flax fibre is also obtained from the stem and used as fine fabric fibre. Examples: Linen cloth, thread, canvas, carpet, etc.

3. Plants As Sources Of Industrial Products

Rubber

Rubber is obtained from the latex (milky juice) of the woody rubber plant (Fig. 5.8). It is used in the manufacture of tyres, tubes, sports goods, adhesives, chewing gum, etc.

Image: Fig. 5.8 Latex obtained from a rubber plant

Gum

Gum is obtained from "keekar" (Australian Acacia). It is used in adhesives, soaps, printing, paints, confectionery (candies), etc.

Tannins

These are obtained from the wood, bark and roots. These are used as colour material for leather, and also as dyes, ink, medicines, etc. They give colour and flavour to tea leaves as well.

Wood and timber

Teak, "saal", "sheesham", pine, "deodar", mango, etc., are used as timber for building purposes. They are also used in making furniture, doors, windows, boxes, bridges, ships, boats, etc. Wood is also used as fuel in villages but doing so is now discouraged in order to preserve forests.

Try to avoid using wood as fuel because cutting of trees is harmful to the environment in many ways.

We can replace wooden articles by using plastic fibres or iron to save the forests.

Medicines

Since ancient times, several plants have been used as medicines. Herbal medicines are prepared from plants only, which may not cause any side effects.

Quinine is obtained from the bark of the cinchona plant (Fig. 5.9) to treat malaria. Penicillin is obtained from the fungus, Penicillium notatum - Penicillin is an antibiotic and is used to kill disease causing bacteria. Neem, tulsi, eucalyptus, garlic, ginger and turmeric also have medicinal value.

Image: Fig. 5.9 Some medicinal plants - showing Cinchona Plant (Source of Quinine) and Penicillium (Microscopic) (Source of Penicillin)

Teacher's Note

Look around your home to find five items made from plants - perhaps cotton clothes, wooden furniture, or spices in the kitchen. This shows how plants provide the raw materials for everyday products we use.

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