Name: Angela Christian L.

Ticzon Date Completed: November 11,

Class: BS BIO 1-B 2022
Teacher: Ma’am Shiela Abion

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 Activity 5: Morpho-Anatomy of the Stem

Objectives:
 to differentiate monocot and dicot based on stem characteristics
 to study the different type of tissues in plant stems
 to be familiar with the different plant stem modifications

Materials: (Fresh specimen)

Coleus blumei, whole plant orchids, whole plant showing pseudobulb
onion strawberry, whole plant
garlic potato
ginger rose stem with thorns
gladiolus, whole plant cactus, whole plant with cladophyll
Citrus microcarpa Cucurbita maxima
PRIMARY SHOOTS

Primary Growth and Development

1. Examine the shoot system of a mature plant (Coleus blumei). Identify the
shoot tip, nodes, internodes, leaves, and axillary buds. Each unit of stem that
consists of a leaf, axillary bud and internode is referred to as a phytomere.
Note that axillary buds always occur above a leaf. Axillary buds give rise to
branch shoots. Thus, branching in a shoot system is exogenous (of external
origin).

How does this compare to branching in a root system?

This differ to branching in a root system because the root system is endogenous
meaning it came from internal system. It can branch in any region of the plant.

COLEUS BLUMEI

2. Examine an image of longitudinal section through a Coleus stem tip. Draw

the apical meristem, leaf primordia (developing leaf), bud primordia

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(developing axillary buds), nodes, and internodes.

How many phytomeres are present in this preparation?

In the prepared material, there are 4 phytomeres.

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 Beginning with the apical meristem, follow the development of shoot tissues.
Label protoderm, procambium, and ground meristem, pith, and cortex.

a. You will not be able to identify any mature cells or tissues in this slide
(keep in mind the size of the shoot tip).

What are the mature tissues that each of these primary meristems become?
The three primary meristems are Protoderm, that will become the epidermis, the
ground meristem, that will form into ground tissues, and the procambium will
become Vascular Tissues.

b. Can you find a node (where procambium diverges in to the leaf

primordium)? Yes, if you’ll notice the illustration of the coleus
stem tip, the node is visible.

These areas are also commonly called “leaf gaps”. However, because seed
plants have eusteles instead of siphonosteles they are not the same as leaf gaps
in ferns. Do you understand the differences? Describe.
The leaf gaps in ferns are shorter than in Coleus Blumei. The leafs are close to
one another, unlike the gaps in coleus blumei, it is noticeable.

3. Examine mature plants(Coleus blumei). Marks were made at regular intervals

along the length of the stem. Based on the present distances between marks,
which part of the stem elongated?
Examining the mature Coleus Blumei, the lower part of the stem is elongated,
since there are different branches grew in this part.

4. Examine an image of transverse section through a monocot (Zea) stem. Label

the epidermis and vascular bundles. Note that the vascular bundles do not
form a single, discrete ring. Identify the bundle sheaths, composed of fibers,
that surround each vascular bundle. Now label the sieve tube members and
companion cells of the primary phloem, and the vessel members of the proto-
and metaxylem (primary xylem).

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5. Examine an image of a transverse section through a dicot (Helianthus) stem.
Label the epidermis, cortex, pith, and vascular bundles. Within a vascular
bundle, identify the phloem, phloem fibers, primary xylem, and procambium.
Procambium within a vascular bundle separates the primary xylem and
phloem and is therefore called intrafasicular ("within a fascicle) procambium,
whereas procambium between bundles is called interfasicular ("between
fascicles") procambium. The regions between the vascular bundles, composed
of parenchyma and interfasicular procambium are called pith rays.

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 Did the mature Zea (monocot) stem possess residual procambium?
No, the mature Zea stem doesn’t possesses residual procambium
since it has closed vascular bundles.

SECONDARY GROWTH
1. Obtain an image of a prepared slide of transverse section of Tilia, older stem
Label the pith. Working outwardly, identify the primary xylem, secondary
xylem, vascular cambium, secondary phloem, primary phloem, cortex,
phellogen, and phellem and lenticel(s) The phelloderm is very difficult to
identify. It is a non-discript layer of cells immediately inside the phellogen).

TILIA STEM TRANSVERSE SECITION

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a. Why is the secondary xylem and phloem always to either side of the vascular
cambium? The secondary xylem and phloem is always to either side of
vascular cambium because the vascular cambium continues to divide,
pushing these bundles to the side to distinguish the secondary xylem and
phloem to its primary bundles.

b. Is the primary xylem pushed inwardly by the secondary tissues?

Yes the secondary tissues pushes the primary xylem inwardly to differentiate both
bundles.

c. Are the primary phloem, cortex and epidermis pushed outward by the
secondary tissues?
Base from what I’ve understand, the primary phloem is pushed
outwardly towards the cortex and epidermis.

2. On the same image (slide), identify the growth rings within the secondary
xylem. They are the result of differential growth rates usually associated with
seasons. Early (spring) wood is composed of larger vessel members,
whereas late (summer) wood is composed of smaller vessel members and
appear as a dark ring at relatively low magnification. To determine the age of
the stem on your slide, count the number of rings. Identify the xylem and
phloem rays. These are sheets of cells (parenchyma and sometimes tracheids)
that are oriented laterally and are a system for the lateral conduction of water,
minerals, and metabolites. Observe transverse, tangential, and radial sections
of a Pinus stem on demonstration.

Identify the xylary rays in each section. Why is lateral conduction necessary?
It is significant for the plant’s growth and the plant’s remodeling or changes of
its structure.

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 Stem Morphology

Label the parts of the twig below:

TERMINAL BUD

LATERAL BUD

INTERNODE

NODE

LENTICELS

GROWTH RINGS

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Stem Modifications

A secondary function of some stems is food storage. A most useful storage stem for
humanity is the potato. Let’s examine some different kinds of stems, including some
common stems that contribute to part of our cuisine.

Rhizomes (Gr. rhiza = rhizoma = root):

Rhizomes are underground stems.
However, etymologically, the term
rhizome infers a root, but botanically, a
rhizome is a stem. What is going on? In
this case a stem is behaving like a root, by
being subterranean. Why do botanists say
rhizomes are stems? ---- Do roots have
buds or leaves? ---- If a subterranean
element has either buds or leaves then it is
a stem. Can you think of a rhizome that
adds spice to our cooking?--------- An
example is ginger (Zingiber officinale). Its
fleshy rhizomes bear thin scale-like leaves
when removed from the ground. Ginger
prepared for the grocery store usually has
had its scaly leaves removed. The leaf
scars are somewhat ring-like and indicate
the position of nodes. As is typical of
nodes, a bud occurs in the leaf axil. The Rhizome of ginger (Zingiber officinale)
internodes are very short

Tubers (L. tuber = tumor, knob, hump): Is

the potato (Solanum tuberosum) a
modification of a stem or swollen rhizome?
Recall that stems bear nodes where buds
occur. What is an “eye” of a potato? -----
The “eye” is a lateral bud, an attribute of
stems. Is the typical potato collected on the
ground’s surface or do we dig for it? ----
We dig for ours. Potatoes are often grown
from pieces of tuber bearing an “eye” that
produces a new plant. These tubers
harvested from underground are
propagated from tuber cuttings and,
therefore, arise from rhizomes,
underground stems. The Irish potato or
white potato is grown from seed and
produces tubers at the tips of stolons, stems
growing along the surface of the ground as
opposed to underground.
Plants, collectively, can reproduce both Potato (Solanum tuberosum)
sexually and asexually. The advantage of

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asexual reproduction for agriculture means plants can reproduce by cloning,
advantageous for uniform crops and production, but can lead to disasters if the plants
are exposed to disease or pests.

A major historical event, the Potato Famine of Ireland, involved a tuber. However,
this tuber originated in South America. The Spanish learned about the potato from
indigenous groups living in the Andes Mountains. The Spanish brought it back to
Europe where it was warmly received and became a major staple, particularly in
Ireland. When the plant was exposed to disease, the staple crop began to die,
devastating the Irish people.

Stolons (L. stolo = shoot or branch,

stolonis = of a branch): Stolons also
called runners are stems growing
along the surface of the ground.
Good examples of stoloniferous
plants are strawberries (Fragaria
spp.)

Fragaria x ananassa

Bulbs (L. bulbus = bulb): While

preparing a meal, one may slice a
plant that can drive you to tears.
What comes to mind?--------- The
humble onion (Allium cepa) may be
your example. The globose onion we
see in the grocery store is a bulb.
Bulbs are shortened stems bearing
overlapping leaves modified for food
storage. We eat the modified leaves.
A longitudinal section best shows the
overlapping leaves on a short stem
bearing basal secondary or
adventitious roots (L. adventicus =
coming from abroad: in botany, said
of structures in unusual - but not
necessarily so unusual - places
Allium sativum

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Garlic, Allium sativum, produces a
different form of bulb. Distinct
from the onion, the buds are greatly
enlarged and are cloves enclosed by
leaf sheafs.

Allium cepa

Corms (Gr. kormos = stump): If a

plant does not store food in its leaves,
then where is the food stored
----- We are then left with either a
stem or a root. If you were to
consume the base of a gladiolus
(Gladiolus grandiflorus) then you
would consume a corm. A corm is a
shortened expanded stem storing
nutrients

Gladiolus sp.

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Thorns: a stem modified into a
short (usually), sharp point end;
derived from shoots and have
vascular bundles inside.

Citrus microcarpa

Cladophyll: stems, usually

flattened, specialized for
photosynthesis.

Opuntia sp.

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 Pseudobulb: thickened bulblike leaf
(or stem) based resembling a bulb.
(orchid)

Orchid

Tendrils: aerial stems specialized

for "grasping" and climbing

Cucurbita maxima

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ROSE

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