EXERCISE 4

EXTERNAL MORPHOLOGY OF A STEM

DICOT STEM

OBJECTIVE

To identify the external parts of a dicot stem

SPECIMENS

Dama de noche (Cestrum nocturnum) or gumamela (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

PROCEDURE

Carefully examine the external parts of the stem.

RESULTS

Paste a picture of a portion of a dicot stem and label its parts.

A Dicot Stem

QUESTIONS

1. What are leaf scars? What are they for?

2. What are the small pores found in the leaf scar? What are they for?

1|B O T A N Y
 3. What are buds? What are they for?

4. What type of bud is present in your specimen?

5. Compare the external anatomy of a monocot with that of a dicot stem by completing the
table below.

Parts Monocot Stem Dicot Stem

Nodes
Internodes
Lenticels
Leaf Scars
Bundle Scars
Buds

MONOCOT STEM

OBJECTIVE

To identify the external parts of a monocot stem

SPECIMEN

Cogon (Imperatacylindica) or Chinese bamboo (Schizostachyumbrachycladium)

RESULTS

2|B O T A N Y
 1. Paste a picture of a portion of a monocot stem and label its parts.

QUESTIONS

1. What do you call the lower part of the leaf which encloses part of the stem?

2. Describe the appearance and function/s of lenticles.

3|B O T A N Y
 EXERCISE 5
INTERNAL MORPHOLOGY OF A STEM

YOUNG HERBACEOUS DICOT STEM

OBJECTIVE

To identify the internal parts of an herbaceous dicot stem

SPECIMENS

Fresh sunflower (Helianthus anuus) and mayana (Coleus blumei)

PROCEDURE

 Find a cross-section diagram of the internal parts of an herbaceous dicot stem.

 Locate the following regions: epidermis, cortex (collenchyma and parenchyma), primary
phloem, fascicular cambium, primary xylem, and parenchymatous pith and pith rays.

RESULTS

Paste the diagram of the entire cross-section and label completely each region mentioned
above.

QUESTIONS

1. Which tissue occupies the center of the dicot stem?

2. Describe the arrangement of the vascular bundle.

4|B O T A N Y
 3. What is the function of pith rays?

4. What is an herb?

5. Tabulate the differences between an herbaceous and a woody stem.

Criteria Herbaceous Stem Woody Stem

Color
Texture
Diameter of the stem
Life span
Secondary growth (+ , -)

YOUNG WOODY DICOT STEM

OBJECTIVE

To identify the internal parts of a cross section of a young, woody dicot stem

SPECIMENS

Tilia or Aristolochia stem

PROCEDURE

 Find a cross-section diagram of the internal parts of a woody dicot stem (Tilia or
Aristolochia stem)
 Examine the cross-section of a woody dicot stem.

5|B O T A N Y
RESULTS

Paste a labeled diagram of a woody dicot stem. Make sure to include the epidermis,
cortex, and stele.

Young Woody Dicot Stem

Maturing Woody Dicot Stem

QUESTIONS

1. Why are xylem and phloem called complex tissues?

2. In what aspect does young, woody dicot stem differ structurally from a young herbaceous
one?

6|B O T A N Y
 3. Does a two-year old twig have only primary growth? Only secondary growth? Or Both?
Explain your answer.

MATURE WOODY DICOT STEM

OBJECTIVE

To describe the internal morphology of a mature dicot stem.

SPECIMENS

tamarind (Tamarindus sp.) or ipil-ipil (Leucaena sp.), or any wooden chopping board

PROCEDURE
 Find a diagram showing the cross section of the tamarind or ipil-ipil.
 Study the sawed stems of an old tamarind and an ipil-ipil

RESULTS

1. Paste the cross-section diagram of the sawed dicot stem of (tamarind or ipil-ipil). Make
sure that your specimen is complete (bark should be intact) label the different parts.

2. Answer the following:

a. Is it possible to have primary tissues still present in your specimens? Why do you say
so?

7|B O T A N Y
 b. What primary permanent tissues did you see in the old woody stem?

c. How many annual rings did you see? What is the approximate age of your specimen?

d. Is the heartwood physiologically active? Why do you say so?

e. Why does removing a ring of bark around a tree kill it?

3. Tabulate the differences between the sapwood and heartwood.

Criteria Sapwood Heartwood

Location
Color
Function
Composed of dead or living
cells
Resistance to decay

THE MONOCOT STEM

OBJECTIVE

To distinguish the internal parts of a monocot stem

SPECIMENS

Stem of Bangka-bangkaan (Rheo discolor) or corn (Zea mays)

PROCEDURE

 Find a diagram showing the cross-section of the stem of Bangka-bangkaan (Rheo

discolor) or corn (Zea mays)
 Examine the cross-section of a monocot stem.

8|B O T A N Y
RESULTS

Paste and label the parts of the cross-section of a monocot stem

QUESTIONS

1. Do monocot stems have a vascular cambium?

2. Are the tissues found in the monocot stem primary?

3. Does primary growth cause the increase in diameter and length?

4. Tabulate the differences between a dicot and a monocot stem.

Criteria Dicot Stem Monocot Stem

a. Arrangement of vascular
bundle
b. Presence of pith
c. Hypodermis
d. Presence of pith rays
e. Bundle sheath

9|B O T A N Y
 EXERCISE 6
SPECIALIZED STEM

OBJECTIVE

To recognize the different kinds of specialized stem

SPECIMENS

Ginger (Zinger officinale) camia (Hedychiumcoronarium), potato, rose, squash or

amplaya stems, stick plant (Euphorbia tirucalli), suha (Citrus maxima), Elodea, Cadena
de amor (Antigononleptopus)

PROCEDURE

1. Examine thoroughly the specimen and take note of the part where you find modifications
2. Paste a picture of a specialized stems and indicate the type of specialization.

RESULTS

Paste a picture and identify the different specialized stems.

Rhizomes Runners

Stolon Tuber

10 | B O T A N Y
 Bulb Corm

Cladophylls Thorns

QUESTIONS

1. How would you differentiate a potato (Solanum tubersum) from a sweet potato (Ipomoea
batatas)?

2. In bulbs, which part of the stem stores food?

3. What are the main functions of underground stems?

11 | B O T A N Y