Lateral meristem — Free Biology Illustration

Biology

Lateral meristem

A narrow cylindrical band of meristematic plant tissue surrounding a stem or root, shown either in cross section as a thin continuous circular ring or in longitudinal view as a thin strip running parallel to the plant axis. The tissue is composed of small, boxy to slightly rectangular, densely packed dividing cells arranged in tightly organized rows, typically a single-cell-thick ring or narrow band. Each cell has thin walls, dense pale green cytoplasm, and prominent nuclei, with pale green coloring. In stem or root context, the band lies between inner wood and outer bark tissues.

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