Saint Louis University

SCHOOL OF NURSING, ALLIED HEALTH AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Department of Biology

Worksheet 4

Activity 4. Plant Tissues

A. Meristematic Tissues Observation
My observation of Allium cepa is it has
meristematic tissues in different phases
of mitosis that are found in the tips of
stems and roots. The apical meristem is
the one that is capable of the extension
of the roots to be able to grow. It's
located in the root tip of the Allium
cepa. The different types of phases are
also present when you use the high-
power objective lens through the
microscope. The root cab of the Allium
cepa is the one responsible for the roots
to grow downward for them to get used
in the soil and absorbs water.

Figure 1. Allium cepa root tip, l.s.

Total Magnification: 40x and 400x

B. Simple Permanent Tissues

Figure 2. Sunflower stem, c.s.

Total Magnification: 100x
 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF NURSING, ALLIED HEALTH AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Department of Biology

It contains stomata, openings through which the

exchange of gases takes place. Two guard cells
surround each stoma, regulating its opening and
closing, and the guard cells are sometimes flanked
by subsidiary cells. Guard cells are the only
epidermal cells to contain chloroplasts. In most
cases, the lower epidermis contains more stomata
than the upper epidermis because the bottom of the
leaf is cooler and less prone to water loss.

Figure 3. Lily leaf epidermis

Total Magnification: 400x

Figure 4. Aristolochia stem, c.s.

Total Magnification: 100x
Figure 5 is a cross section of santan leaf viewed
under low power objective. Palisade consists of 3-4
layered of elongated compactly arranged cells,
below the upper epidermis. There are 5-7 layered
loosely arranged rounded to oval shaped spongy
parenchyma with many air chambers located above
the lower epidermis. Xylem circularly arranged
forming central pith, pith also consists smaller
vascular bundle. Xylem composed of its
parenchyma and fibers. Phloem circularly covers
the xylem, and composed of some sieve elements.
 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF NURSING, ALLIED HEALTH AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Department of Biology

Figure 5. Santan leaf,c.s.

Total Magnification: 100x
Figure 6. A cross section of the fruit Pyrus (pear).
The gatherings of the cells are the grainy textures
you notice while eating a pear. Every group of
sclerenchyma cells is almost isodiametric, meaning
they are nearly round and not long. Since they are
not fiber-like sclerenchyma cells, they are called
sclereids, and due to the fact that they are
exceptionally close to being round, they are named
brachysclereids, also known as stone cells.

Figure 6. Pear, c.s.

Total Magnification: 100x
 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF NURSING, ALLIED HEALTH AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Department of Biology

Nerium oleander is a deadly plant that can kill an

adult. The parenchyma, sclerenchyma, and
collenchyna are the tissues that develop the growth
of the plant even if it's still poisonous. Some can
grow by secondary growth, some compose dead
cells like sclerenchyma, and parenchyma is the
overall powerhouse tissue of Nerium oleander
because of its ability to absorb photosynthesis and
still have the power to poison.

Figure 7. Nerium oleander, c.s.

Total Magnification: 100x

C. Complex Permanent Tissues

On figure 7, Zea mays' stems are observed through a
microscope to distinguish the sclerenchyma fibers,
xylem, and vessel element. The most visible is the
vessel element because of its rock-shape-like form that
transports water from the root of the plants. While the
sclerenchyma fibers are like the epidermis of the plant
because it provides enough strength to support the
plant. Lastly, the xylem is the little cells that surround
the vessel element, but unlike the vessel element that
transports water, the xylem transports both water and
nutrients from its soil.

Figure 8. Zea mays stem, c.s.

Total Magnification: 400x
 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF NURSING, ALLIED HEALTH AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Department of Biology

The Helianthus stem, also known as the sunflower

stalk, contains vessel elements, xylem parenchyma,
and xylem vessels, which makes it a dicot and a
vascular plant. When you section a helianthus stem
into cross and transverse sections, the vessel elements
will show up with vascular bundles. At the centre of
vascular bundles, xylem parenchyma is responsible for
storing fats and carbohydrates and transporting water.
Xylem vessels should be partnered with phloem
because of their ability to transport dissolved nutrients
from xylem parenchyma. 

Figure 9. Helianthus stem, l.s.

Total Magnification: 400x
The cassava stem is one of the hardest stems to section
because it has to be straight. Cassava has thick walls
on the outside, which makes it hard to section. The
Sclerenchyma cells have strong and thick walls, just
like the cassava stem. Observing in the microscope,
the low power objective lens is better than the high
power objective lens because in LPO, you can see the
outer part of the plant, which will lead to a better
understanding of the cassava stem.

Figure 10. Cassava stem, l.s.

Total Magnification: 100x