S TRUCTURE OF INTERNAL ANATOMY

•  INTERNAL ANATOMY OF THE STEM 

TRANSITION INTO PANICLE FORMATION
 

•  INFLORESCENCE OF STEM 

EXTERNAL FEATURES
 

•  EXTERNAL ANATOMY OF THE STEM

MERISTEM
 

•  SHOOT APICAL MERISTEM

 
 
 
 
    SEVERAL FUNCTIONS OF THE STEM:     ~ The stem's primary funcition is VASCULAR TRANSPORT of materials from the roots to the rest of the plant body, and from the leaves, buds, and shoot apex down to the roots.  It transports solutes, water, minerals, ions, and many other substances.   ~ The stem is responsible for the production of LEAVES at the nodes, as well as the inflorescence of a FRUITING BODY, the panicle.   ~ The stem assists PHOTOSYNTHESIS, or the intake of light and carbon dioxide for the production of sugar.   ~ The stem has another vital function as the STORAGE unit for starches and other substances.   ~ The stem may function to AERATE the roots through its essentially open center.