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STATION 1
Introduction to the stem
The stem functions as the principal supporting organ in the plant body. The stem also hold and separates the leaves to improve their exposure to light, supports the flowers to aid in pollination and holds up the fruits so that dispersal can take place. Stems also contain vascular bundles which conduct materials throughout the plant body. The stem’s buds (terminal buds and axillary buds) consist of a dome of cells called the apical meristem which is surrounded by immature leaves, the leaf primordia. As growth occurs, the stem elongates and the leaves unfold. A cell produced by the apical meristem occupies a progressively more basal position as new cells are added. Stems consist of nodes and internodes. A node is the region on a stem where a leaf (or flower) arises. The region between two successive nodes is the internode.
Stems may be either herbaceous or woody. Herbaceous stems remain soft and green and are covered with epidermal tissue; woody stems become hardened with secondary xylem formed from secondary growth by a lateral meristem and are covered by bark. Lateral meristems give rise to secondary tissues, increasing the girth of a plant. Monocot stems are usually herbaceous and include plants such as lilies, corn, rice and other grasses; eudicot stems may be herbaceous or woody. Examples of herbaceous eudicots include tomatoes, marigolds, alfalfa, pansies and petunias and examples of woody eudicots include pecan trees, oaks and maples.
Monocot Stems
Monocot Stems
The basic stem structures, called primary tissues, are produced from the apical meristem. The outermost tissue layer is the epidermis. Immediately inside are collenchyma cells forming the ground tissue. The ground tissue in the stem’s interior consists primarily of larger, thin-walled parenchyma cells. Scattered throughout the parenchyma tissue are vascular bundles composed of xylem and phloem. The bundle sheath cells (modified sclerenchyma fibers) surrounding the vascular bundles aid the ground tissue in providing structural support for the stem.
There are two main differences between monocot and eudicot stems. Monocot stems have scattered vascular bundles and they have no cambium. To contrast, eudicot stems have vascular bundles arranged in a ring and can have a cambium that allows for secondary growth (and increases in girth).
Stems & Leaves Laboratory
Examine the monocot stem model. Be able to identify epidermis, ground tissue parenchyma, vascular bundle, xylem, phloem
Monocot Stem models
STATION 2
Eudicot Stems
Herbaceous Eudicot Stems
Unlike monocots, eudicots may possess lateral meristems. The vascular cambium , one type of lateral meristem, separates the xylem and phloem within the vascular bundles of herbaceous eudicot stems. The vascular cambium gives rise to secondary vascular tissues; secondary xylem develops to the inside of the cambium (towards the center) while secondary phloem develops toward the outside.
In a eudicot stem, the vascular bundles are arranged in a ring, surrounding the pith. The area between the vascular tissue and the epidermis is designated as the cortex. Both the cortex and the pith are composed primarily of parenchyma cells. As parenchyma cells extend between the vascular bundles, connecting the cortex and pith.. Structural support for the stem is provided by sclerenchyma fibers within the vascular bundles and collenchyma cells within the cortex.
Examine the eudicot stem model. Be able to identify epidermis, cortex, vascular bundle, xylem, phloem, vascular cambium, pith
Herbaceous Eudicot Stem
View the prepared slide of a eudicot stem and compare with the model. Label the micrographs below: epidermis, cortex, vascular bundle, xylem, phloem, vascular cambium, pith
Review Questions
- Which cell type comprises the cortex and pith? What are the functions of these tissues?
- What does the vascular cambium produce – are these tissues produced to the outside of the cambium or to the inside?
- BE SURE to compare and contrast the cross sections of stems and roots from last week; pay special attention to the monocot root and eudicot stem slides!!!
Enlarged Vascular Bundle
Cross Section of a Eudicot Stem 40x Cross Section of a Eudicot Stem 100x
Leaves may be either simple or compound. Simple leaves have a single blade while compound leaves have several leaflets that share a common petiole. There is one axillary bud at the stems’ node at the base of the petiole of each leaf regardless of whether it is simple or compound. The extension of the petiole between leaflets is called the rachis. There are two basic types of compound leaves, pinnately and palmately compound leaves. If all the leaflets branch from a central point, the leaf is palmately compound. If the leaflets branch from the rachis, the leaf is pinnately compound.
Observe the laminated leaf specimens and label the compound leaves below: axillary bud, petiole, leaflet, rachis
Palmately Compound Pinnately Compound Double Pinnately Compound
Simple leaf
Review Questions
- You find a plant that has leaves with parallel venation. Considering what you know, what type of root system would you expect this plant to have? Also, how many petals would you expect to find on the flowers?
- What structure do you look for at the base of the petiole to help determine if a leaf is simple or compound?
- What two vascular tissues are located within the vein? What does each transport?
- What is the primary function of the leaf?
Review Questions
- Give the function for each of the following: cuticle
stoma
guard cells
- Explain how leaf structure directly correlates to its function? (e.g. Why are most blades flat? Why do epidermal cells lack chloroplasts? What purpose are the air spaces in the spongy mesophyll?, etc)
- Leaf epidermal cells are covered with a waxy cuticle. Explain why root epidermal cells lack such a cuticle.
Eudicot leaf cross section 100x
