1

ANAMM SERIES PLANT

ANATOMY

The Tissue Systems: All the tissues of a plant which perform the
same general function regardless of position or continuity in the body, may be
considered to form, together, a tissue system.
Each system usually consists of only one tissue or an association of tissues which
perform a common function and have the same origin. According to Sachs
(1875), there are three main tissue systems.
(1). The dermal or epidermal tissue system,
(2). The fundamental or ground tissue system and
(3). The vascular tissue system.

Epidermal Tissue System: It is a derivative of protoderm. It is

represented by the epidermis and the associated structures, which are mainly
involved in providing protection to the plant body. The
epidermis is the outermost covering of the plant body. It is
commonly described as the skin of the plant body. It is
usually represented by a single layer of compactly
arranged, barrel-shaped parenchyma cells. In the stem and
the leaf, the epidermal cells are thick-walled and are meant
for protection. In the roots, the epidermal cells are thin-
walled, since they are mainly involved in the absorption of
water and mineral salts. Hence, the epidermis of root is
described as epiblema or rhizodermis or piliferous layer. In
the leaf, there are two epidermal layers, one on each
surface of the leaf.
Epidermal hairs: The epidermis usually forms projections known as
epidermal hairs. In the root, the epidermal hairs are unicellular and are called as
root hairs. The root hairs penetrate between the soil particles to absorb water.
In the stem and the leaf, the epidermal hairs are multicellular and are known as
trichomes. They are involved in the secretion of some
terpenoid compounds.
Cuticle: The epidermis of the stem and the leaf is
usually surrounded by a thin, covering called cuticle. It is
formed by a waxy substance called cutin. It is meant for
 2
ANAMM SERIES PLANT
ANATOMY
preventing excessive evaporation of water. Cuticle is absent in the root
epidermis.
Stomata: The epidermis of the leaf and herbaceous stem (green stem)
contains numerous minute openings called stomata. Each stoma is surrounded
by a pair of modified epidermal cells called the guard cells. The stomata take
part in vital physiological functions such as transpiration, respiration and
photosynthesis. Stomata are absent in the epidermis of the root and woody
stem.
Note:
When the epidermis has a single layer of cells, it is called uniseriate; when it is
many layered it is called multiseriate.

Ground Tissue System: It is a derivative of ground meristem. It

is represented by the different regions in the plant body that are mainly involved
in storage. In the cylindrical parts of the plant body such as root and stem, the
ground tissue becomes differentiated into various regions. In a typical condition,
following regions can be recognised in the ground tissue.
 3
ANAMM SERIES PLANT
ANATOMY
Hypodermis: Hypodermis is a region that is found immediately below the
epidermis in the stem. It is made up of a few layers of either collenchyma cells
(as in dicot stem) or sclerenchyma cells (as in monocot stem). Hypodermis is
meant for providing additional protection and mechanical support.
Cortex: Cortex is a major component of the ground tissue represented by
many layers of loosely arranged parenchyma cells. Intercellular spaces are
prominent. Cortex represents the major storage region in the plant body.
Endodermis: Endodermis is the inner most layer of cortex represented by a
single layer of compactly arranged barrel-shaped parenchyma cells. In the stem,
it is meant for storage. In the root it plays an important role in the movement of
absorbed water. Some of the cells in the root endodermis contain secondary
thickenings called casparian thickenings, formed by a waxy substance called
suberin.
Pericycle: Pericycle is a region that lies immediately below the endodermis.
In the stem, it is represented by a few layers of sclerenchyma cells while in the
root, it is represented by a single layer of parenchyma cells.
Medullary rays: Medullary rays/Conjunctive tissue are represented by
parenchyma cells that are found in between the vascular tissues. In the stem,
the parenchyma cells are meant for storage of food and represent the medullary
rays while in the root, they store water and represent the conjunctive tissue.
Pith: Pith is the innermost part of the stem or root representing the axis. It is
formed by loosely arranged parenchyma cells with prominent intercellular
spaces. It is another major storage organ in the plant body. The pericycle, the
medullary rays or conjunctive tissue, and the pith along with the vascular
tissues, together represent a region,
which is known as stele or central
cylinder.
When a distinct stele is present, the
condition is described as eustele. When
a stele is absent, or cannot be
distinguished, the condition is
described as atactostele.
 4
ANAMM SERIES PLANT
ANATOMY
In the leaf, the ground tissue system is known as mesophyll. It is formed by
several layers of chlorenchyma cells found between the two epidermal layers.
The mesophyll is mainly involved in photosynthesis.

Vascular Tissue System: The vascular tissue system is a

derivative of procambium. It is represented by the conducting tissues-xylem and
phloem. These vascular tissues occur in the form of strands extending from one
end of the plant body to another. These strands are known as vascular bundles
or fascicles. In the leaf, the vascular bundles are known as veins.
The vascular bundles may sometimes enclose a piece of meristematic tissue
called cambium, which brings about secondary growth in the bundles. When
cambium is present, the vascular bundle is described as open and when the
cambium is absent, the vascular bundle is described as closed.
A vascular bundle may contain either only xylem or only phloem or both.
Accordingly, based on the relative position of xylem and phloem the bundles can
be distinguished into three types.
Conjoint Bundle: In conjoint bundle xylem and phloem occur in the same
bundle along the same radius.
The conjoint bundle is of two types:
 Collateral where, the vascular bundle consists of only one set of xylem and
one set of phloem. The collateral bundle can be either open or closed.
 Bicollateral where, the vascular bundle has one set of xylem, two sets of
cambium and two sets of phloem. The bicollateral bundle is always open.
The conjoint bundles are characteristic features of the leaf and the stem.
 5
ANAMM SERIES PLANT
ANATOMY
Radial Bundle: In radial bundle, xylem and phloem occur in separate bundles,
alternately. Radial bundles are characteristic features of the root.
Concentric Bundle: In concentric bundle, xylem and phloem occur in the
same bundle surrounding each other. When the bundle has xylem in the centre
surrounded by phloem, the concentric bundle is described as amphicribal (or
hadrocentric). e.g., ferns. When phloem is in the centre surrounded by xylem,
the concentric bundle is described as amphivasal (or leptocentric).
Example: Dracena, Yucca. The concentric bundles are characteristic features
of some monocot plants.
In the xylem, the protoxylem and metaxylem vessels exhibit characteristic
orientation with reference to the central axis. On this basis, two types of
arrangement can be recognised in the xylem.
 Centripetal arrangement in which, the younger metaxylem vessels are
found towards the pith while the older protoxylem vessels are found away
from the pith. In this condition, xylem is described as exarch. It is a
characteristic feature of the root.
 Centrifugal arrangement in which, the older protoxylem vessels are found
towards the pith and the younger metaxylem vessels are found away from
the pith. In this condition, xylem is described as endarch. It is a
characteristic feature of leaves and stem.