plant organs: Stems

Question 1

what are the four primary functions of stems

Answer 1

support, translocation, photosynthesis, and storage

Question 2

what does the stem support

Answer 2

the green tissues (leaves)

Question 3

what are some ways stems can grow

Answer 3

erect, twining, or prostrate

Question 4

what is responsible for translocation in the stem

Answer 4

the vascular bundle, also known as the xylem and phloem

Question 5

what is an example of a plant that has poorly developed leaves so the stem in the main place of photosynthesis

Answer 5

cactus

Question 6

in some plants what can stems also be modified as

Answer 6

food storage

ex. sugar cane, asparagus

Question 7

how do stems grow and develop

Answer 7

stems contain meristems which develop leaves, branches, tillers, adventitious roots, and buds

Question 8

what are the internodes

Answer 8

the distance from one node to another

Question 9

how are dicot vascular bundles arranged

Answer 9

in a circle around the central pith core

Question 10

what do dicot stems have to increase girth

Answer 10

vascular cambium

Question 11

what does the node do in dicots

Answer 11

it is a place of attachment for one or more leaves as well as buds which can grow into branches

Question 12

how do monocots increase their thickness

Answer 12

by cell expansion (not cell division)

Question 13

how is the vascular bundle arranged in monocots

Answer 13

they are scattered throughout the outer layer of pith

Question 14

the stems are usually ____ in monocots

Answer 14

hollow

Question 15

monocot nodes are usually ____

Answer 15

solid

Question 16

where do leaves originate in monocots

Answer 16

at the nodes

Question 17

in monocots where is the meristem located

Answer 17

the base of the leaf

Question 18

how are leaves attached in monocots

Answer 18

attached at the nodes by a sheath

Question 19

how are the leaves attached in dicots

Answer 19

directly at the node or by petiole

Question 20

what are tillers and what causes them to grow

Answer 20

they are side shoots. the ability to produce tillers is controlled by genetic and environmental conditions

Question 21

what are environmental conditions that can increase tilling

Answer 21

when plants are placed further apart they have an increased light penetration causing more tilling.

optimum amounts of food and water are also important

Question 22

what is apical dominance in plants and how is it caused

Answer 22

the top of the plant is the main point of growth.

it is caused by hormones in the plant apex.

this results in the formation of branches from the buds along the stems

Question 23

in apical dominance what happens if the apex is removed

Answer 23

allows the lower buds to develop more lateral branches

Question 24

when is apical dominance beneficial and not beneficial

Answer 24

it is undesirable in trees (would cause them to grow tall in weird ways)

beneficial in scrubs (you can make them dense and full)

Question 25

what is the axillary bud

Answer 25

the bud found in the leaf axil

Question 26

what is the axil area

Answer 26

the upper angle created between leaves at the point of connection with a stem. its where the axillary bud is found

Question 27

what is the stem of a cereal crop called

Answer 27

culm

Question 28

after 4-5 leaves have been produced on a cereal plant what will happen

Answer 28

it’ll begin to tiller

Question 29

what is a tiller

Answer 29

aside shoot that is produced when the axillary bud at a stem node breaks dormancy and begins to grow

after the tiller produces about tree leaves ut generally begins to develop its own secondary adventitious roots from lower stem nodes