Meristem

Meristems are the plant world’s equivalent to human stem cells. They are groups of cells that divide and produce more cells that can then differentiate and mature to form all the various parts of a tree or plant. Meristematic cells are small-celled with thin cell walls. They contains no intercellular spaces. Meristems are the primary means of plant growth.

Meristematic tissue is found in several areas of a plant including:

• near tips of roots and stems, apical meristems
• buds and nodes of stems
• cambium between the xylem and phloem in dicots.
• epidermis of dicot trees and shrubs (cork cambium)
• pericycle of roots, producing branch roots

Lecture by Professor Steve O’Neal, Columbus State Community College
http://www.uic.edu/classes/bios/bios100/labs/plantanatomy.htm
http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/SCI_ED/ grade10/plant_tissues/meristematic.htm
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT2003/M/

Mer"i*stem (?), n. [Gr. divisible.] Bot.

A tissue of growing cells, or cells capable of further division.

© Webster 1913.