Stems, part 1

Learning Objectives:
• Explain differences between primary and secondary growth in stems,
and the contributions of distinct meristems to this growth in shoots
• Diagram structure of primary stems
• Explain relationship between stem structure and function
• Compare/contrast eudicot and monocot primary stems
 Vertical axis

Primary and
secondary growth
Horizontal axis
in stems
mainly primary mostly secondary

Arabidopsis Sitka spruce

http://ds9.botanik.uni-bonn.de
 Primary and
secondary growth
in stems
Xylem to inside phloem to outside
vertical
Primary growth occurs in Secondary growth occurs horizontal
the longitudinal plane from in the radial plane from the
the shoot apical meristem vascular cambium

Shoot apical meristem

phloem

xylem

Vascular cambium

Vascular cambium cells are meristematic,

and undergo cell divisions to generate xylem
to the inside and phloem to the outside
 In primary stems of most
eudicots, the vascular system
forms a ring. In monocots, the
vascular bundles are scattered
throughout the ground tissue.
Eudicot stems Monocot stems

For eudicots, the vascular bundles may be distinct, form

a continuous cylinder, or be somewhere in between
 Basic arrangement of
tissues in a vascular bundle
(this example is buttercup)
Towards epidermis
A B

phloem cells
appear less
dense than in
cytoplasm due to
lack of organelles

parenchyma

Towards centre
 Sunflower is an example of a
eudicot that has discrete vascular
bundles arranged in a ring
Maize is an example of a monocot
that has vascular bundles
scattered within the ground tissue

Enlarged in
next slide

Figure 6.12 Bidlack and Jansky

Detailed view of vascular bundle
from maize (monocot) stem
monocots - large xylem
Towards epidermis vessels for efficient water
movement

• Air space is created by

destruction of early xylem during
mid and final maturation stages.
• Later xylem has thicker cell
walls, so persists.

used to be xylem, as plant

expands the cells are ripped
apart

Towards centre
Detailed view of vascular bundle
from maize (monocot) stem

Towards epidermis

• Air space is created by

destruction of early xylem during
mid and final maturation stages.
• Later xylem has thicker cell
walls, so persists.

Towards centre

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 Stems, part 1

Takeaways:
• Apical meristems give rise to primary growth, while cambial
meristems give rise to secondary growth
• Cell types found in vascular bundles reflect their roles in
mechanical support and transport
• Eudicot and monocot species have distinctive arrangements of
the vascular system within the ground system