PLANT GROWTH FACTORS HOME
The definition of a plant stems is part of the structural axes of any plant that is known as a vascular plant. A vascular plant has tissues especially made to conduct water, minerals and photosynthetic products up throughout the plant.
Examples are conifers, flowering plants, and ferns. Stems are botanically divided into its nodes and its internodes. A stems nodes will hold its buds. Those buds will eventually grow into assorted leaves, flowers if it makes flowers, perhaps some cones and conceivably even more stems.
The function of this plant part can be divided into four of its most important functions. The first function is as support for various fruits, flowers and leaves of the plant.
By giving this support the stem serves to keep the leaves of the plant in the light, as well as to keep a vacant place for the plant to keep its fruits and flowers.
The next function of plant stems is to enable the plant to transport fluids in between the roots and shoots while utilizing its phloem and xylem.
Part of the function of this plant part is the storage of various nutrients for the plant. In times when the plant needs nutrients and none are forthcoming, the plant will utilize the stored nutrients.
Listed highly in the function of plant stems is the production of fresh living tissue. You see the normal life span of various plant cells is anywhere from one to three years.
Therefore, stems have some cells called meristems that will annually generate fresh living tissue for the plant. The life expectancy of most plants would be very short were it not for this particular function.
In general stems can be said to have three different tissues, dermal, ground and vascular. The dermal is said to cover most of the stem’s outer surface.
Its function is to control the gas exchange of the plant and to protect it as well as waterproof it. Ground tissue has been known to sometimes provide in the function of photosynthesis.
The vascular tissue on the other hand will most often make available long distance transport as well as structural support to the plant.
All of these descriptions may vary slightly depending on the plant species but the function of plant stems is basically considered the same.
The function of this plant part would not be complete without reviewing what man has accomplished through the use of plant stems. There are, for example potato stems, and sugarcane stems. Maple tree stems (trunks) provide us with maple sugar. Water chestnuts and asparagus are stems, as are bamboo shoots.
Chicle comes from the trunks of the chicle tree, and from that comes the main ingredient of chewing gum. I’m sure that you can all imagine all of the wooden items humans have put to use.
Rubber, hemp, tannins, and other items such as cork come from stems. The list is endless, but consider amber, turpentine as well as mulch and rosin. Above all, do not forget the lowly toothpick, found to be so very useful after a good steak for example.
