Skip to main content
Biology LibreTexts

4: Stems

  1. Last updated
  2. Save as PDF
  • Page ID
    123921

    • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    The shoot system of a plant consists of stems and leaves (Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)). Stems may range in length from a few millimeters to hundreds of meters, and also vary in diameter, depending on the plant type. Stems are usually aboveground, although the modified stems of some plants, such as the potato, also grow underground. Stems may be herbaceous (soft) or woody in nature. A stem may be unbranched, like that of a palm tree, or it may be highly branched, like that of a magnolia tree.

    Straight, cylindrical bamboo stems with narrow leaves
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): The shoot system of bamboo plants. Image by RanaAnees (CC-BY-SA).

    The stem of the plant functions in support, conduction, photosynthesis, and storage. Stems support leaves, flowers, and buds. They connect the roots to the leaves, helping to transport absorbed water and minerals to different parts of the plant. It also helps to transport the products of photosynthesis, namely sugars, from the leaves to the rest of the plant. Stems also store food for the plant, mainly in the form of starch.

    Attributions

    Curated and authored by Melissa Ha using the following sources:

    • 4.1: Stem Morphology (External Structure)
      The major external features of the shoot system include nodes, internodes, leaves, axillary buds, and axillary shoots.
    • 4.2: Internal Anatomy of the Primary Stem
      The three tissue systems in stems are represented by the epidermis (dermal tissue), cortex and pith (ground tissue), and vascular cylinder or bundles (vascular tissue).
    • 4.3: Meristem Morphology
      Plants have meristematic cells that are not differentiated, but that are destined to divide and produce other cells that may also divide, elongate, and differentiate into specialized cells and tissues.
    • 4.4: Secondary Stem
      Secondary growth begins in their first year within the stem and continues on for many more years. These plants are classified as woody. They develop secondary tissues, like the periderm and wood.
    • 4.5: Stem Modifications
      Stems and shoots also have modifications. Some examples are rhizomes, stolons, tubers, bulbs, corms, thorns, spines, cladophylls, and insect traps.
    • 4.6: Chapter Summary

    Thumbnail image: Cross section of the woody stem of Aristolochia. Image by Berkshire Community College Bioscience Image Library (public domain).

    This page titled 4: Stems is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Teresa Friedrich Finnern.