Meristems

• Meristems


  Tissues in a plant consisting of undifferentiated cells capable of indeterminate growth
• Meristems

  • Analogous to totipotent stem cells in animals
  • Have specific regions of growth and development
• Meristematic tissue


  Can allow plants to regrow structures or even form entirely new plants (vegetative propagation)
• Types of meristems

  • Apical meristems
  • Lateral meristems
• Apical meristems


  • Occur at shoot and root tips
  • Responsible for primary growth (i.e. plant lengthening)
• Lateral meristems


  • Occur at the cambium
  • Responsible for secondary growth (i.e. plant widening / thickening)
• Apical meristems


  Give rise to new leaves and flowers
• Lateral meristems


  Responsible for the production of bark
• Meristems are analogous to what sort of animal cell?

  totipotent stem cells
• Apical meristems give rise to new leaves and flowers, while lateral meristems are responsible for the production of bark