Basic 4 · Science · Living and Non-Living Things
Types of Plants: Trees, Shrubs and Herbs
In this topic you will describe trees, shrubs and herbs by their physical appearance.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Describe trees, shrubs and herbs
- Compare their size and stems
- Give Ghanaian examples of each
What you already know
- Parts of a plant (Basic 2)
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- Diversity of matter
- Sub-strand
- Living and Non-Living Things
- Indicator
- B4.1.1.2.2 – Describe the physical appearance of different types of plants
Introduction
A mango tree is tall with a thick trunk. A hibiscus plant is shorter with many stems. Garden eggs grow low with soft stems. Plants have different shapes and sizes.
1. Trees
- tall, woody plants
- one thick, hard main stem called a trunk
- branches start high above the ground
- examples: mango, odum, mahogany, coconut palm
2. Shrubs
- medium-sized woody plants
- many hard stems from near the ground
- examples: hibiscus, cassava, croton, lime
3. Herbs
- small plants with soft, green stems
- usually short-lived
- examples: garden egg, tomato, pepper, mint, okra
| Feature | Tree | Shrub | Herb |
|---|---|---|---|
| height | tall | medium | short |
| stem | one thick woody trunk | many woody stems | soft, green stem |
| life span | many years | many years | often one season |
New words
- tree
- A tall woody plant with one main trunk.
- shrub
- A medium woody plant with many stems.
- herb
- A small plant with a soft, green stem.
- woody
- Hard like wood.
- trunk
- The thick main stem of a tree.
- life span
- How long something lives.
Summary
- Trees are tall with one thick woody trunk.
- Shrubs are medium-sized with many woody stems.
- Herbs are small with soft, green stems.
- Ghana has many trees, shrubs and herbs.
Class activity: Plant Walk
- Walk around the school compound.
- Find one tree, one shrub and one herb.
- Describe the stem and height of each.
You need: Local shrub, Climbing-plant cuttings, Printed photographs of Ghanaian trees, Creepers, Exercise books
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which plant has one thick woody trunk?
- A. Tree
- B. Herb
- C. Grass
- D. Moss
Show answer
Answer: TreeTrees have trunks.2. Hibiscus is a…
- A. Shrub
- B. Tree
- C. Herb
- D. Climber
Show answer
Answer: ShrubIt has many woody stems.3. Which plant is a herb?
- A. Tomato
- B. Mahogany
- C. Odum
- D. Coconut palm
Show answer
Answer: TomatoIt has a soft green stem.4. Herbs have soft, green stems.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThat is their feature.5. Shrubs are taller than trees.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseTrees are taller.6. The thick main stem of a tree is the ______.
Show answer
Answer: trunkThat is the trunk.7. Give two differences between a tree and a herb.
Show answer
Answer: Trees are tall with woody trunks; herbs are short with soft stems.Compare height and stem.8. Is cassava a tree, shrub or herb? Explain.
Show answer
Answer: A shrub, because it has several woody stems and is medium-sized.Look at stem and height.
Homework
- List two trees, two shrubs and two herbs near your home.