Lab 5 - Stems

Question 1

scattered vascular bundles

Answer 1

monocot stem

Question 2

vascular bundles arranged in a ring

Answer 2

eudicot stem

Question 3

What is the main upright portion of a plant called?

Answer 3

The stem

Question 4

What are nodes on a stem?

Answer 4

Points where the petiole (leaf stalk) attaches to the stem

Question 5

What are internodes?

Answer 5

The segments of the stem between two nodes

Question 6

Which parts of the stem and leaves are older — upper or lower?

Answer 6

Lower stem and leaves are older; upper ones are younger.

Question 7

Where does upward (vertical) growth occur in a plant?

Answer 7

At the apical meristem located at the top of the plant.

Question 8

What is the role of axillary buds?

Answer 8

They allow outward/lateral growth of branches from each node.

Question 9

What enables the increase in the diameter (thickening) of a stem?

Answer 9

Lateral meristems.

Question 10

What process occurs in meristems to form new plant tissue?

Answer 10

Mitosis

Question 11

What do meristems produce?

Answer 11

New cells that become new tissues.

Question 12

What is the outermost tissue layer of a stem in cross-section, and what is its function?

Answer 12

The epidermis; it protects the internal tissues.

Question 13

What tissues make up the vascular bundles in a stem, and what is the collective term for all bundles?

Answer 13

Xylem and phloem; all vascular bundles together are called the stele.

Question 14

What tissue surrounds the vascular bundles in a stem?

Answer 14

Ground tissue.