Anatomy in Flowering plants

1. Describe the TS of a dicot stem.

The T.S of a typical young dicot stem shows
Epidermis, Cortex and Stele
A) Epidermis:
It is the outer most layer and protective layer. It is covered by a thin layer of
cuticle. It may bear trichomes and few stomata.
B) Cortex:
The cells arranged in multiple layers between epidermis and pericycle
constitute the cortex. It consists of 3 sub zones hypodermis, general cortex
and endodermis.
a) Hypodermis:
1) It consists of few layers of collenchyma cells.
2) It presents just below the epidermis.
3) It provides mechanical support to the young stem.
b) General cortex:
1) It is present below the hypodermis.
2) It consists of rounded thin walled parenchyma cells with conspicuous
intercellular spaces.
c) Endodermis:
1) It is the inner most layer of cortex.
2) These cells rich in starch.
3) This layer also called as starch sheath.
C) Stele:
It is the central part of stem. It consists of pericycle, vascular bundles, medulla
and medullary rays.
a) Pericycle:
1) It is present on the inner side of the endodermis.
2) It is present above the phloem in the form of semilunar patches of
sclerenchyma.
b) Vascular bundles:
1) A large number of vascular bundles are arranged in a ring.
2) The ring arrangement of vascular bundles is a characteristic feature of
dicot stems.
3) Each vascular bundle is conjoint, open and endarch with protoxylem.
 c) Medulla/Pith:
1) It occupies the central portion of the stem.
2) It has large number of rounded parenchymatous cells large
intercellular spaces.
d) Medullary rays:
In between the vascular bundles there are few layers of radially placed
parenchymatous cells, which constitute the medullary rays.

2. Describe the TS of a monocot stem.

The T.S of a typical young monocot stem shows
Epidermis, Hypodermis, Ground tissue and Vascular bundles.
A) Epidermis:
It is the outer most layer and protective layer. It is covered by a thin layer of
cuticle. It consists of few stomata.
B) Hypodermis:
1) It presents just below the epidermis.
2) It consists of few layers of sclerenchymatous cells.
3) It provides mechanical support to the young stem.
C) Ground tissue:
1) It is present below the hypodermis.
2) It consists of rounded thin walled parenchyma cells with conspicuous
intercellular spaces.
 D) Vascular bundles:
1) A large number of scattered vascular bundles are present.
2) Each vascular bundle is surrounded by a sclerenchymatous bundle
sheath.
3) Each vascular bundle is conjoint and closed.
4) Peripheral vascular bundles are generally smaller than the centrally
located.
5) The phloem parenchyma is absent.
6) Water containing lysigenous cavities are present within the vascular
bundles.

3. Describe the internal structure of Dicot root.

The T.S of dicot root shows three regions.
Epidermis, Cortex and Stele.
A) Epidermis:
1) It is the outermost layer.
2) Many of the epidermal cells protrude in the form of unicellular root hairs.
B) Cortex:
It consists of several layers of thin walled parenchyma cells with intercellular
spaces.
 Endodermis:
1) It is the innermost layer of cortex.
2) It comprises a single layer of barrel shaped cells without intercellular
spaces.
3) The tangential as well as radial walls of the endodermal cells have
Casparian strips.
4) Casparian strips are a deposition of water impermeable, waxy material
suberin in the form of strips.
C) Stele:
All the tissues on the inner side of the endodermis constitute the stele. It
consists of Pericycle, Vascular tissues, Pith and Conjuctive tissues.
(i) Pericycle:
1) It is present below the endodermis.
2) It is a few layers of thick walled parenchymatous cells.
3) Initiation of lateral roots and vascular cambium during the
secondary growth takes place in these cells.
(ii) Vascular tissues:
1) These are usually two to four xylem and phloem patches.
2) During secondary growth a cambium ring develops between the
xylem and phloem.
(iii) Pith: It is very small or inconspicuous.
(iv) Conjuctive tissue: The parenchymatous cells which lie between the
xylem and phloem are called conjuctive tissue.
4. Describe the internal structure of monocot root.
The T.S of monocot root shows three regions.
Epidermis, Cortex and Stele.
A) Epidermis:
3) It is the outermost layer.
4) Many of the epidermal cells protrude in the form of unicellular root hairs.
B) Cortex:
It consists of several layers of thin walled parenchyma cells with intercellular
spaces.
Endodermis:
1) It is the innermost layer of cortex.
2) It comprises a single layer of barrel shaped cells without intercellular
spaces.
3) The tangential as well as radial walls of the endodermal cells have
Casparian strips.
4) Casparian strips are a deposition of water impermeable, waxy material
suberin in the form of strips.
C) Stele:
All the tissues on the inner side of the endodermis constitute the stele. It
consists of Pericycle, Vascular tissues, Pith and Conjuctive tissues.
(i) Pericycle:
1) It is present below the endodermis.
2) It is a few layers of thick walled parenchymatous cells.
3) Initiation of lateral roots takes place from pericycle.
(ii) Vascular tissues:
1) These are usually more than six xylem bundles in monocot root.
2) This condition is called polyarch.
(iii) Pith: Pith is very large and well developed.
(iv) Conjuctive tissue: The parenchymatous cells which lie between the
xylem and phloem are called conjuctive tissue.
Monocot root doesn’t undergo any secondary growth.
5. Describe the internal structure of a dicot leaf (dorsiventral leaf).
T.S of dicot leaf exhibit three parts. They are Epidermis, Mesophyll and Vascular
system.
I. Epidermis:
1) Epidermis is differentiated into adaxial epidermis (upper surface) and
abaxial epidermis (lower surface).
2) It is covered with cuticle to reduce transpiration.
3) Abaxial surface contains more stomata than adaxial surface.
II. Mesophyll:
1) The tissue between upper and lower epidermis is called mesophyll.
2) It is composed of palisade parenchyma and spongy parenchyma.
3) Palisade parenchyma is made up of elongated parenchymatous cells
which are arranged vertically and parallel to each other.
4) Spongy parenchyma contains air cavities.
5) Mesophyll mainly concerned with the photosynthesis.
III. Vascular system:
1) This includes vascular bundles which can be seen in the veins and the
mid rib.
2) Vascular bundles are conjoint, collateral and closed type.
3) The vascular bundles are surrounded by a layer of thick walled bundle
sheath cells.
4) Xylem location is towards adaxial surface and phloem location towards
abaxial surface.
6. Describe the internal structure of a monocot leaf (isobilateral leaf).
T.S of monocot leaf exhibit three parts. They are Epidermis, Mesophyll and
Vascular system.
I. Epidermis:
1) Epidermis is differentiated into adaxial epidermis (upper surface) and
abaxial epidermis (lower surface).
2) It is covered with cuticle to reduce transpiration.
3) Stomata are equally distributed on both the surfaces.
4) In grasses along the veins large, empty colourless cells called bulliform
cells are present.
5) These cells helps in the rolling and unrolling of leaf to minimize the
water loss.
II. Mesophyll:
1) The tissue between upper and lower epidermis is called mesophyll.
2) It is not differentiated as the palisade parenchyma and spongy
parenchyma.
3) It contains either palisade parenchyma or spongy parenchyma but not
both.
III. Vascular system:
1) It consists of similar size of vascular bundles.
2) Vascular bundles are conjoint, collateral and closed type.
3) Xylem location is towards adaxial surface and phloem location towards
abaxial surface.