Anatomical Model of a Monocot Stem

Characteristics of a Monocot Stem

The characteristics of a monocot stem, as represented by the model and described in the sources, include the following:

Epidermis: The outermost layer, covered by a thick cuticle and capable of bearing trichomes and stomata.

Hypodermis: The layer beneath the epidermis, generally composed of sclerenchyma cells.Scattered throughout the ground tissue in several concentric circles, each bundle is surrounded by a sheath of sclerenchyma cells.

Closed Crybrovascular Bundles: Unlike dicots, the vascular bundles of monocots are closed, meaning they lack fascicular or interfascicular cambium and do not allow for secondary thickness growth.

Xylem and Phloem: In each bundle, the xylem is endoarch (inward) and the phloem is outward. Xylem consists of vessels and parenchyma, while phloem includes sieve tubes, companion cells, and parenchyma.

Lack of Distinct Pith: The center of the stem is occupied by parenchyma cells, without a distinct pith as in dicots.