The tissues and cells of a stem

In a dicotyledonous, non-woody (herbaceous) stem the epidermis is like that of a leaf: a single layer of cells perforated by stomata. The epidermis helps maintain the shape of the stem. It is covered with a waxy cuticle to reduce water loss. In woody stems of trees and bushes, the epidermis is replaced bybark consisting of many layers of dead cells. Bark is penetrated by small pores calledlenticels, through which gaseous exchange takes place. The lenticels usually appear as raised spots surrounded by a powdery and impermeable material.

Just inside the epidermis, a layer of collenchyma gives both support and flexibikity to the stem. Some collenchyma cells contain chloroplasts which make the stem appear green.

The inner parts of the stems of most non-woody plants consist of vascular bundles embedded in undifferentiated parenchyma cells. When fully inflated with water (turgid), the parenchyma cells press against the epidermis and collenchyma, strengthening the stem. The stems of trees and bushes are supported not by parenchyma but by rigid woody tissue which makes up the bulk of these stems. The woody tissue consists of xylem and associated cell such as fibres formed by a process called secondary growth. New wood is added outside the old wood each growing season to form annual growth rings, visible in transverse sections of the stems of trees and shrubs.

Vascular tissue in the stem takes the form of bundles containing phloem and xylem and reinforced with strong fibres. The xylem is located towards the inside of the stem and the phloem towards the outside. The tough rigid vascular bundles embedded in softer turgid parenchyma tissue have been likened to reinforced concrete, in which rigid steel girders are imbedded in softer concrete. This arrangement gives the stem strength and flexibility, making it well suited to resisting sideways bending in strong winds. The vascular bundles of dicotyledonous plants are arranged in a ring pattern around the outside of the stem, while in monocotyledons such as cacti the vascular bundles are scattered throughout the stem.

The stem centre is called the pith. It may consist of parenchyma cells for storage, or it may be devoid of cells, in which case it is called a pith cavity.

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