Tag: internal structure of stem(dicot and monocot)

The earliest vascular plants had stems with a central core of vascular tissue. This consisted of a cylindrical strand of xylem, surrounded by a region of phloem. Around the vascular tissue, there might have been an endodermis that regulated the flow of water into and out of the vascular system. Such, an arrangement is termed a protostele, which is the simplest type of stele. Actinostele is a variation of the protostele in which the core is lobed or fluted. This stele is found in many species of club moss. Actinosteles are typically exarch  and consist of several to many patches of protoxylem at the tips of the lobes of the metaxylem. Exarch protosteles are a defining characteristic of the lycophyte lineage.

Knots are common blemishes in trees, often causing lumps or holes within the trunk of the tree itself. In most cases knots are caused by the natural growth of the tree, though the specific circumstances under which they form determines how they will appear. As a tree grows and increases the circumference of its trunk, the growing trunk begins to overtake the branches that grow out from it. Knots form around these branches, building up trunk material as the tree continues to expand. Since, the branches are still growing as they are overtaken by the trunk, the knot that forms is solid and contains living wood throughout. The wood of the knot is typically tougher than the surrounding wood and may form a bulge around the branch emerging from its center. So, knots are formed in wood due to bases of the branches get buried in main stem and not because leaf scars, insect bites and injuries. 
Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

Phellem is outermost layer of cork cambium, which is suberised. Hence, this is the first layer to be found. 
Endodermis is one the layer of cortex, which is to be found under the phellem.
Pericycle is the layer present between endodermis and vascular bundles. 
Dicotyledonous stem possess conjoint, collateral vascular bundle, where xylem is internal and phloem is external. Therefore, phloem is to be encountered after the pericycle. Hence, option C is correct. 

Dicot stem hypodermis is a region lying immediately below the epidermis. It is represented by a few layers of collenchyma cells with angular thickenings. The cells are compactly arranged without any intercellular spaces. Hypodermis provides mechanical support and additional protection. 

Dicot stem vascular bundles are eight in number, arranged in form of a broken ring. The vascular bundles are conjoint, collateral and open. Xylem is on the inner surface and phloem on the outer surface. Xylem is described as endarch. 

In dicot stem, hypodermis is a region lying immediately below the epidermis. It is represented by a few layers of collenchyma cells with angular thickenings. The cells are compactly arranged without any intercellular spaces. Hypodermis provides mechanical support and additional protection. Phellogen is the secondary lateral meristem that may arise from permanant living cells of hypodermis or outer cortex. It is composed of single layer of meristematic cells. 

Dicot stem vascular bundles are eight in number, arranged in form of a broken ring. The vascular bundles are conjoint, collateral and open. Xylem is on the inner surface and phloem on the outer surface. Xylem is described as endarch. 

Intrafascicular cambium is present between xylem and phloem in dicot stem. It is also termed as fascicular cambium. This meristematic area spreads laterally from each bundle and eventually becomes continuous, forming a complete vascular cambium.

Endarch is the arrangement in which the protoxylem is directed towards the centre and metaxylem elements towards the periphery. The development of the xylems in this arrangement follows the centrifugal pattern. It is the characteristics of the stem of flowering plants.

Whereas exarch is the arrangement in which the protoxylem is directed towards the periphery and metaxylem towards the centre. The development of the xylem in this arrangement follows the centripetal pattern. It is the characteristics of roots.