SPEC

4A

3 PLANT STEMS

REFERENG

4.4 4.5 4.6 CP7

LEARNING 0BJECTIVES

Know the similarities and differences between the structures, the position in the stem, and the
function of

sclerenchyma fibres (support), xylem vessels (support and transport of water and mineral ions) and
phloem

(translocation of organic solutes)

Understand how the arrangement of cellulose microfibrils and secondary thickening in plant cell
walls co

the physical properties of xylem vessels and sclerenchyma fibres in plant fibres that can be
exploited b

Jtes to

ans.

Many plant cells are specialised and adapted for a specific role in the

plant This means they do not look like the 'typical' plant cell. They

may be organised into tissues and organs that carry out a specific

function in the plant. One example of a plant organ is the stem.

type of plant cell. parenchyma These are unsper

come

Outer

cells, but they can be modified in several ways so

suitable for storage and photosynthesis. For examp

layers of parenchyma cells in the stem may contai

chloroplasts. Some of the parenchyma in the stem

dified into

PROVIDING SUPPORT AND TRANSPORT

collenchyma and sclerenchyma.

The primary function of a stem is support, to hold the leaves in

the best position for obtaining sunlight for photosynthesis. Stems

also support the flowers in a way that maximises the likelihood

of pollination. The stem must provide fiexible support, because

plants are frequently blown by wind and battered by rain. Stems

need to bend to endure the forces of the weather but still have the

strength to stay upright

The second major function of stems is the movement of materials

around the plant. They provide the route along which the products

of photosynthesis are carmied - from the leaves where they are

made to other parts of the plant where they are needed. Water

moves steadily through the stems from the roots up to the leaves

and camies mineral ions which are needed for the synthesis of

more complex chemicals

Most stems are green because they contain chlorophyll. They

carry out a small amount of photosynthesis but this is not a major

function

Sclerenchyma and

collenchyma

support tissue

Not all plants have stems. The liverworts have a simple flat

structure and the mosses have leaves which arise directly from

a pad of rhizoids. Both of these groups have no specialised

transport tissues and grow near the ground However, the majority

of the more complex plants do possess sterms

epidermis.

protective tissue

xylem and

phloem vascular

conducting tissue

-cambium

parenchyma

THE TISSUES THAT MAKE UP THE STEM

Sterns contain many different tissues as you can see in fig A

They all have impotant roles, but you will be concentrating on the

xylem, the phloern and the sclerenchyma

The outer layer of the stern is the epidermis, which does not

provide support but protects the cells beneath it. Much of the

stem is packing tissue which consists of the most common

packing tissue

ig A The distribution of the different tissues in the stem of a plant

Collenchyma cells have thick cellulose primary cell wals,

are even thicker at their cormers (see fig B). This gives the tu

strength. These cells are found around the outside of the stc

inside the epidermis, and they give plenty of support but remal

hving, so they stretch as the plant grows and provide flexibily

ich