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Monocot Stem: Closed Vascular Bundles in Zea

cross section: Zea stem

magnification: 400x

 

Berkshire Community College Bioscience Image Library

 

There is no apparent stele, rather the vascular bundles are scattered throughout the cortex with numerous small bundles crowded nearly the periphery of the stem and fewer larger bundles towards the center of the stem.

 

The vascular bundles are closed and collateral. Xylem is oriented towards the center of the stem and small amounts phloem to the outside. Cambium is lacking preventing secondary growth. In mature vascular bundles, the earliest protoxylem may break down to produce a large protoxylem cavity. The vascular bundles are wrapped in a bundle sheath of thick walled supportive sclerenchyma cells.

 

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Uploaded on May 25, 2017
Taken on February 10, 2014