Meristematic Tissues

Meristematic tissues are cells or group oI cells that have the ability to divide. These tissues in a
plant consist oI small, densely packed cells that can keep dividing to Iorm new cells. Meristems
give rise to permanent tissues and have the Iollowing characteristics:
O the cells are small,
O the cells walls are thin,
O cells have large nuclei,
O vacuoles are absent or very small, and
O there are no intercellular spaces.
Meristematic tissues is Iound in the Iollowing 4cati43s:
O near tips oI roots and stems. This is called apical meristems.
O in the buds and nodes oI stems.
O in the cambium between the xylem and phloem in dicotyledonous trees and shrubs.
O under the epidermis oI dicotyledonous trees and shrubs (cork cambium).
O in the pericycle oI roots, producing branch roots.

Types a3/ Fu3cti43 41 Meristematic Tissue


Apica Meristem: Apical meristems are located near the tips oI roots and shoots. A typical
meristem cell is relatively small, cuboid,with a thin cellulose cell walland dense cytoplasmic
contents.When the cell divided by mitosis one cell remain in the neristemwhile the other
increase in size and diIIerentiates to become a part oI the permanent plant body. Apical
meristem is responsible Ior primary growth and thus responsible Ior the increase in length oI the
plant. The apical initials may occur in one or more tiers.
Latera Meristem: Lateral meristems are laterally situated in older parts oI the plant parallel
with the long axis oI the organs. They occur in thin layers. It is responsible Ior secondary growth.
Vascular cambium gives rise to secondary vascular tissue. Phellogen gives rise to the periderm
which replaces the epidermis and includes cork. It is responsible Ior the increase in girth oI the
plants.
I3tercaary Meristems: Intercalary meristems are located between the regions oI permanent
tissue, at the nodes oI many cotyledons, such as at the base oI grass leaves. It allows an increase
oI length. The lateral meristems gives rise to the tissues responsible Ior this thickening oI stems
and roots. The main Iunction oI this type oI meristem is to increase the length oI the organin
which they occur. They are short lived and gradually merge with the surrounding tissues and
become permanent.