What characterizes the maturity stage of a plant?

The maturity stage of a plant is characterized by the plant having established its growth and reached its full size. At this point, the active processes of growth and energy production typically slow down, and the plant focuses on reproductive functions. Nutrient movement within the plant may become less dynamic as the focus shifts from development to maintaining existing structures and preparing for reproduction. In this stage, plants usually start to allocate energy towards reproduction, which includes flowering, fruiting, and seed production rather than ongoing growth or leaf and root expansion. This shift is significant because it emphasizes the plant's transition to its final stage of life, where the primary goal is to produce offspring for the continuation of its species.