Take the 2-minute tour ×  During photosynthesis, a plant
translates CO2, water and light into O2. I assume the carbon C
is further used for the growing process. I wonder how the plant
grows before the time where photosynthesis is possible, i.e.
before there are even leaves, in which photosynthesis occurs.
To what extent does the plant grow from the seed/the minerals in
the ground?  How much carbon are relevant for which parts of the
plant and at what times of the evolution of the plant?  I don't
know if there are only these life periods of the plant, i.e. if
there are other major biochemist-of-growing changes, than in the
comparison before and after the plant got leaves. So are there
other relevant aspects to this? If there are leaves present, is
the rigid structure of the plant only coming from the CO2 in the
air and not from the ground anymore?  The answer will probably
depend on the plant. So here is another formulation of the
question:  What are typical characteristics of different plants
in this regard?