Stems

 The stem originates from the

epicotyl.
 Stems

 Functions
 Movement of materials
 Water & minerals from roots to leaves
 Manufactured food from leaves to roots

 Support leaves & reproductive structures

 Food storage
 Stems

 Aerial or
Epiterranean-
stems that grow
above the ground

 Subterranean or
Underground- stems
that grow below the
ground.
 EXTERNAL MORPHOLOGY

Parts and functions of a stem
 Node
 Internode
 Bud: Axillary and Terminal
 Stipules
 Leaf Scar
 Bundle scars
 Lenticels
 External Stem Structure
 Node
 Area or region where
leaves are attached
 Internode
 The area or region
between nodes
 Bud
 Occurs in the angle
between the petiole and
the stem: Axillary and
Terminal
 Lenticels
 Breathing pores.
External Stem Structure

 Terminal Bud
 Bud on the end
of the stem.
 Axillary
Lateral Bud
 Bud on the side
of the stem.
 The buds of
many woody plants
especially in
temperate or cold
climates, are
protected by a
covering of modified
leaves called scales.
 External Stem Structure

 Stipules
 Paired leaf-like appendages at the base of
the petiole
 Leaf scar
 Scar left by a fallen leaf
 Bundle scar
 Scars that mark the location of the water-
conducting tissues located within the leaf
scars.
Apical bud

Node
Internode

Apical
bud
Shoot
system
Vegetative
shoot

Axillary
bud
Stem
 INTERNAL MORPHOLOGY

Young Dicot Stem
(Herbaceous and Woody)

Old woody Dicot Stem

Monocot Stem
 Types of stems
• Herbaceous vs. Woody stems
 YOUNG DICOT STEMS
• Epidermis (Dermal tissue type)
- Provides protection
- Has cuticle (wax) prevents water loss
- Trichomes (hairs) for protection, to release
scents, oils, etc.
 YOUNG DICOT STEMS

• Cortex

- it consists of
large, thin-walled
parenchyma or may
also acquire
collenchyma,
schlerenchyma, and
some secretory cells
.
 YOUNG DICOT STEMS

• Vascular cylinder or
stele

- the innermost
tissue region of the stem
composed of the primary
vascular tissues, primary
phloem, and primary
xylem
 OLD WOODY DICOT STEM
 the cambium during
spring is more active and
forms a large number of
vessels with wider
activities
 Spring wood
 Summer wood

 It forms concentric rings

known as annual rings or
growth rings.
 Heartwood and Sapwood
 Heartwood

 Physiologically inactive in
most plants

 It is dark in color because

of the presence of tannins,
oils, gums, resins.

 This region function for

mechanical support
Heartwood and Sapwood

 Sapwood

 The outer region of

secondary wood is
lighter in color and
physiologically active

 It is used to transport
water and minerals
from roots to the
leaves
 Internal Stem Structure

 Bark
 Old, inactive phloem.
 Heartwood
 Old, inactive xylem.
 Sapwood
 New, active xylem.
 MONOCOT STEM
 Epidermis

 Cortex

 Vascular
Cylinder-
vascular
bundles are
parallel
 Internal Stem Structure
(Monocots)
 Vascular
bundles
contain both
xylem &
phloem.
 Examples:
 Grasses
 Corn
 Monocot Stems
(Vascular Bundle)
 Internal Stem Structure
(Dicots)
 Plant stems have
xylem & phloem
separated by the
cambium.
 Example:
 Trees
Stem Modifications
 Stem Modifications:
Storage Stems
 Tubers
 Corms

 Bulbs

 Rhizomes
 Tubers
 A tuber is an
underground stem that
stores food.
 We know a potato is a
tuber because it has
nodes (eyes) which
produce new shoots.
A potato is a tuber
Specialized Types of Stems
 Tubers
 Food Storage Area
 Short, thick
underground stem
 Examples
• Potato
• Caladium
 Corms
 A corm is a swollen,
vertical stem with a
papery covering.
 Underground stem
which is short, stout,
solid, and more less
rounded in shape.
 Gladiolus and
Crocus corms Crocus are examples
of plants that form
corms.
Specialized Types of Stems

 Corm
 Underground
 Solid, fleshy, scale
covered
 Examples
• Gladiolus
• Crocus
Corm Growth Cycle
 Bulbs
 Large bulbs with a small stem at the lower
end surrounded by several fleshy leaves
 Bulbs come in 2 basic types:
 Tunicate bulbs; onions and tulips are examples.
 Scaly bulbs; tiger and asiatic lilies are
examples.
Specialized Types of Stems
 Bulb
 Layers of fleshy scales
that overlap each other
 Underground stem
 Examples
• Tulips
• Lilies
• Onions
 Tunicate Bulbs
 Tunicate bulbs have:
 A papery outer
covering called a tunic.
 A compressed,
modified stem with
nodes, called a basal
plate.
 Fleshy scales made of
modified leaf tissue.

A tunicate bulb
 Tunicate Bulbs

Fleshy Scales

Basal Plate

Onion is a tunicate bulb

 Tunicate Bulbs

 Tunicate bulbs form

“onion rings” when cut
in cross-section.

Onion bulb shown

in cross-section
 Scaly Bulbs
 The other type of true bulb is a scaly bulb.
Scaly bulbs:
 Lack a papery covering (tunic).
 Have a basal plate.
 Have fleshy scales made of leaf tissue.
 Do not form “onion rings” when cut in cross-
section.
 Scaly Bulbs

Lilium is a scaly bulb

Bulb Growth Cycle
 Rhizomes

 Rhizomes are:
 underground stems.
 horizontally-growing.
 produce shoots and
adventitious roots.

Iris rhizome
Specialized Types of Stems
 Rhizomes
 Underground stems
that produce roots on
the lower surface and
extend leaves and
flower shoots above
ground
 Examples
• Iris
• Lily of the Valley
 Rhizomes

 Some plants, like

quack grass, produce
long, thin rhizomes.

Quack Grass
 Rhizomes

 Other plants, like

ginger, produce large,
thick rhizomes called
pachymorphs.

The pachymorph
rhizome of Ginger
 Stem Modifications:
Asexual Reproduction

 Runners

 Stolon

 Offset
 Stolons

 Stolons are:
 Aboveground stems.
 Grow horizontally outwards
 Produce shoots and adventitious roots.
 Strawberry and Spider Plant are examples of
plants that produce stolons.
Specialized Types of Stems

 Stolons
 Stem that grows
horizontally above
the soil surface
 Examples
• Strawberries
• Airplane Plant
 Stolons

Wild Strawberry stolons