STEM

Diwey Perez Ikitan

Jomer Jireh Pinalapal
Jane Prudenciano
Ruffa Prudenciano
Marvin Carl Chico
Tintin Pastor Tagapuen
 Stem

• Above ground part of a plant that provide

structural support and connect the root
system to the leaves.
• Major parts: Bark, Pith and Wood
FUNCTIONS OF STEM
• It Supports and holds leaves, flowers and fruits.
• The stem allows the leaves to arrange in a way
that they are able to receive direct sunlight in
order to efficiently perform photosynthesis.
The arrangement and position of leaves also
allow for gas exchange.
•The xylem and phloem
present in the vascular
bundles of stem conduct
water and minerals across
the plant.
FUNCTIONS OF STEM

• Stems bear flowers and fruits in the position

that facilitates the process of Pollination,
Fertilization, and Dispersion of seeds.
• Some stems undergo modification to store
food and water.
Example: Succulents
• Few greens stems contain chloroplasts and are
capable of carrying out photosynthesis as well.
• Same stems are modified to carry out
VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION which is a form of
asexual reproduction seen in plants.
EXTERNAL STUCTURE OF A
The stem divides into
STEM
nodes and internodes.
•NODES- give rise to
the leaves and hold the
buds which grow into
branches.
•INTERNODES-
separates two nodes or
a distance between two
nodes
•PLUS: PETIOLE: Is
the stalk that attaches
the leaf blade to the
INTERNAL STUCTURE OF A
STEM

Internally, it
contains three
basic types of
tissues: DERMAL
TISSUE, GROUND
TISSUE, AND
VASCULAR TISSU
E all of which are
made of simple
cells.
 INTERNAL STUCTURE OF A
STEM
Dermal Tissue System
This system consists of Epidermis and Periderm.

The epidermis which is generally a single layer of closely packed

parenchymatous cells. Its function is to cover and protect the
plant. Depending on the part of the plant that it covers, the dermal tissue
system is specialized. The epidermis of a plant contains the stomata
which regulate water intake and help in gaseous exchange. The
epidermis of leaves secretes a coating called the cuticle which helps the
plant retain water. It also forms a protective layer over flowers, fruits,
and roots.
The periderm replaces the epidermis in plants that undergo secondary
growth. It is multilayered and consists of nonliving cells that cover the
outside of stems and roots to protect the plant. The periderm also
protects the plant from pathogens, injury, and prevents excessive water
loss.
 INTERNAL STUCTURE OF A
STEM
Ground Tissue System
Ground tissue systems are produced by the
ground meristems. They are made up of
three types of cells: parenchyma,
collenchyma and sclerenchyma. Ground
tissues synthesize organic compounds and
provide support to the plant. In some cases,
the ground tissue also stores food in the
form of starch.
 INTERNAL STUCTURE OF A
STEM
Vascular Tissue System
The vascular tissue system is primarily made up
of Xylem and Phloem. The vascular system is
responsible for transporting water, minerals, and
food across the plant. Xylem and phloem exist in
strands called as vascular bundles.
INTERNAL STUCTURE OF A
STEM
 INTERNAL STUCTURE OF A
STEM
• Epidermis: The epidermis is a single layer of
cells that make up the external tissue of the
stem called dermal tissue. This tissue covers
the stem and protects the underlying tissue.
Woody plants have an extra layer of
protection on top of the epidermis known as
bark. In some cases, the bears’ multi-cellular
hairs and a few stomata.
 INTERNAL STUCTURE OF A
STEM
The cortex can be further divided into three
layers:

Hypodermis: It is the outermost layer of the

cortex. It is formed of 4 to 5 cell thick layer of
collenchymatous cells. These cells are living and
contain chloroplasts.
General cortex: Lies below the hypodermis. It
consists of thin-walled parenchymatous cells
with intercellular spaces. Some of the cells have
chloroplasts and are known as chlorenchyma.
 INTERNAL STUCTURE OF A
STEM
Endodermis: The innermost layer of the cortex. It is made up
of a single row of compact barrel-shaped cells without
intercellular spaces. The cells of endodermis store starch
grains and so they are known as the starch sheath. Casparian
strips are distinctly visible in endodermal cells.
The vascular tissue of the stem consists of the complex
tissues xylem and phloem which carry water and nutrients
up and down the length of the stem and are arranged in
distinct strands called vascular bundles. Cambium is a strip of
thin-walled cells that lie between the xylem and phloem in
dicot plants. Cambium is made up of merismatic cells and is
responsible for secondary growth. It is absent in monocots.
GROWTH IN A STEM

Growth in stems occurs in two ways:

• Primary Growth- Pith
occurs at the
apical tips of the
stem by virtue of
the rapidly
dividing
merismatic tissue
in these regions
of the stem.
GROWTH IN A STEM
•Secondary Growth-
is actually the
increase in the
thickness of the stem
by virtue of the lateral
meristems. These are
absent in the
herbaceous plants as
they lack cambium
which is responsible
for this type of growth.
TYPES OFSTEMS

Based on their location with

respect to the ground, there
are three types of stems:

1. Underground stem
2. Aerial stem
3. Subaerial stem
TYPES OFSTEMS:

1. Underground
Stem
•These stems remain at the
ground level and produce aerial
shoots that rise above the soil.
•Their roots are superficially
present. These stems are meant
for storage of food and
perennation.
•These stems are also capable of
vegetative propagation.
 TYPES OFSTEMS:

Types of Underground Stem

• They are of different types as follows:
•Rhizome- is a thickened
underground stem that has
distinct nodes and
internodes and scaly
leaves at the nodes.
Example: Ginger, turmeric,
•Tuber-
fern is a horizontal Rhizome of ginger

underground stem that

becomes enlarged at its
growing tips due to the
accumulation of stored
food, commonly starch. Ex.
Tuber of potato
Potato
TYPES OFSTEMS:

Types of Underground Stem

• Bulb- It is a short underground
stem with a fleshy base with
leafy scales. The stem is
actually reduced to form a disc-
like structure. Short, erect
underground stem. Ex. Onion
garlic, tulip, lily Bulb of Onion

•Corm- is a short, vertical,

swollen underground stem of
a plant that serves as a food
storage organ to enable the
plant to survive adverse
conditions.
Ex. Colocasia, gladiolus, Corm of Colocasia
TYPES OFSTEMS:

2. Sub Aerial Stem

• These stems run parallel to the ground and
give off roots at certain intervals or nodes.
• Certain plants, generally of weak herbaceous
habit, propagate quickly by means of special
branch stems which give rise to small
daughter plants. Thus, although the indivi-
dual plants are short-living, the colony of
plants is perennial.
• These modified branches either grow along
the surface of the soil (water in aquatic
plants) or may be partially or wholly
underground.
TYPES OFSTEMS:

Types of Sub Aerial Stem

They are further divided into the following types:
•Runner- It grows
parallel to the ground
and has a creeping
stem with long
internodes. On the
lower surface, the
nodes give out
adventitious roots at
regular intervals. A
runner develops from
the axils of lower Runner of
Strawberry

leaves of the aerial

stem.
TYPES OFSTEMS:

Types of SubAerial Stem

•Offset - These are

shorter and thicker than
the runner and are often
seen in aquatic plants.
Ex.Pistia Offset of Pistia

•Sucker - These stems

are similar to the stolon
but it grows obliquely
upwards and gives rise to
a new plant.
Ex. Banana, pineaple
Sucker of Pineapple
TYPES OFSTEMS:

3. Aerial Stem
•These stems are found above the ground
and perform varied functions.
•Aerial stem modifications are
modifications to the aerial stems,
vegetative buds and floral buds of plants
growing in different conditions and which
perform functions such as climbing,
protection, synthesis of food, or vegetative
propagation
TYPES OFSTEMS:

Types of Aerial Stem

•Thorns- These stem
modifications appear as
hard, woody and sharp
outgrowths that protect
the plant. example:
Roses, Citrus, Duranta
•Tendril – These types of
stems are slender,
twining strands that
enable a plant to seek
support while climbing
on other surfaces.
Ex. Cucumber,
Watermelon, passiflora
TYPES OFSTEMS:

Types of Aerial Stem

•Phylloclade- This type
of stem is a green,
flattened or cylindrical
one that resembles a
leaf. A phylloclade is
capable of performing
photosynthesis and we
can find them in
xerophytes or in other
plants that have little or
no leaves.
Ex.Opuntia, Euphorbia
TYPES OFSTEMS:

Types of Aerial Stem

•Bulbil- These stems are
actually modified axillary
buds which become fleshy
and rounded due to the
storage of food. They
become detached from the
plant, fall o the ground and
develop into a new plant,
thus help in vegetative
propagation.
Ex. Dioscorea
TYPES OFSTEMS:

Types of Aerial Stem

•Cladode- This is a
modification of the
phylloclade where it
contains one or more
internodes.
Ex. Asparagus,
Butcher’s Broom
FORMS OF A STEM
ERECT OR STRONG STEMS:
-unbranched
-erect
-Cylindrical
-Stout
-Slim jointed stem with solid nodes and hollow
internodes

WEAK STEMS:
-Weak trailing stem- on ground without rooting at
the nodes
-Creeping stem- runner,stolon,offset,or sucker
-Climbing stem- attaches or climb objects(vines)
 Thanks For
Listening!!!!!