Tag: internal structure of monocot stem

Cortex and pith remain indistinguishable in a monocot stem. The epidermis is a layer of cells that cover the plant body, including the stems, leaves, flowers and fruits, that protects the plant from the outside world. In old stems the epidermal layer, cortex and primary phloem become separated from the inner tissues by thicker formations of cork. But in the monocots the cortex and pith are indistinguishable.
Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

Anatomy of the monocot stem shows that while the vascular bundles are oval in shape, numerous and scattered, it is by nature, conjoint, collateral, closed and endarch without any lysigenous activity.

Lysigenous intercellular spaces is type of intercellular space arises through dissolution of entire cells, which are therefore called as lysigenous cavity. These cavities of intercellular spaces store up water, gases and essential oils in them. The examples are commonly found in water plants and many monocotyledonous stems. The secretory cavities in Eucalyptus, Citrus and Gossypium are good examples. In monocot stem  the vascular bundle encloses both xylem and phloem. Xylem is found towards the inner surface and phloem towards the outer surface. Cambium is absent. Hence, the vascular bundles are described as conjoint, collateral and closed. In the xylem, there are two metaxylem and two protoxylem vessels arranged in the shape of Y. 

Monocot stem vascular bundles are found irregularly scattered in the ground tissue. Towards the periphery, the bundles are smaller in size while towards the centre, they are larger in size. The smaller bundles are younger, while the larger ones are older. Hence, the arrangement is described as centrifugal. 

Hard bast is the patch of sclerenchyma present on outside of each vascular bundle, thereby forming a bundle cap over each bundle. They serve to provide additional mechanical support to the stem and are present in Sunflower stem. Wheat stem represent a monocot stem in which each vascular bundle is surrounded by thick walled bundle sheath, they do not have hard bust. Root is marked by presence of primary xylem and phloem in different radii, separated from each other.
Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

Monocot stem vascular bundles are found irregularly scattered in the ground tissue. Towards the periphery, the bundles are smaller in size while towards the centre, they are larger in size. The smaller bundles are younger, while the larger ones are older. Hence, the arrangement is described as centrifugal or endarch. 

Secondary growth refers to the growth that results from cell division in the cambia or lateral meristems and that causes the stems and roots to thicken, while primary growth is growth that occurs as a result of cell division at the tips of stems and roots, causing them to elongate and gives rise to primary tissue. 

In a monocot stem the vascular bundles are not arranged in a circle but are usually scattered throughout the ground tissue. There is no clearly defined pith as there is in many dicotyledonous species.