LO 1.3 - Stems

Dicot stem is the solid cylindrical axial part of a plant consisting of nodes and internodes giving rise to leaves, branches, and flowers. Stems

Function of Stems * Support * Transport * Growth * Storage * Photosynthesis Stems

Support Stems provide support and a point of attachment for leaves, flowers and fruit, optimizing their position for exposure to sunlight and pollination and dispersal. Stems

Transport The presence of a vascular system within the stem provides for the movement of water and dissolved minerals from the roots upward and transport of carbohydrates producers in the leaves downward throughout the plant. Stems

Growth Cell division in specialized areas. The stem grows and produces essential tissue and structures such as buds, leaves, flowers and fruit. Stems

Storage Specialized stems, usually underground, serve as storage reservoirs for carbohydrates and other nutrients. Stems

Photosynthesis Stems have tissue with chloroplasts that contribute to the plants carbon cycle. Other specialized stems carry out photosynthesis in plants where leaves are greatly reduced or absent. Stems

• Node: Area of stem from where leaves or buds form. • Internode: Area between two adjacent nodes. • Bud: Embryonic stem often covered by protective scales. Stems

Bud * Embryonic stem, often covered by protective structure for protection. Stems

Bulb * Short, flattened underground stem surrounded by layers of thick fleshly modifies leaves. Stems

Corm * Short, vertical underground stem surrounded by thin papery tissue. Eg… Garlic Stems

Herbaceous * Stem or plant that is soft and without woody tissue. Stems

Node * Area of a stem from which leaves or buds are produced. Stems

Internode * Area of a stem between two constructive nodes. Stems

Leaf * Typically flat photosynthetic structure produced from the nodes of stems and branches of plants. Stems

Rhizome * Horizontal underground stem with scale like leaves. Stems

Stolon * Elongated horizontal stem that grows on the surface of the ground and that roots and produces new plant at the nodes and at the tip. Stems

Shoot * Young stem or branch. Stems

Tuber * Short, fleshy underground stem or thickened portion of a rhizome Stems

Woody * Hard stem or plant formed by the presence of secondary xylem. Stems

A terminal bud grows at the tip of a shoot and causes the shoot to grow longer. Stems

Lateral buds (axillary) grow along the sides of a shoot and give rise to the sideways growth that makes a plant bushy. Stems

Deciduous trees adn shrubs lose all leaves annually. After leaves fall, you can more easily see the axillary buds with leaf scars below. Stems

Rhizomes * Rhizomes are unique in that they grow perpendicular, permitting new shoots to grow up out of the ground. * When separated, each piece of a rhizome is capable of producing a new plant.. * The primary function of the rhizome is the storage of nutrients (carbohydrates and proteins) Iris Rhizomes