Laboratory Investigation # 5
Stems and Roots
Description of the Lab
The lab is allows the observation of the internal anatomy of stem and roots.
Outline of Investigation
1. Apical Meristems
A. Allium cepa (onion) root tip, longitudinal section, prepared slide
2. Root Primary Tissues
A. Ranunculus (buttercup) root cross section, prepared slide.
3. Root Types and Modifications
A. Ranunculus and grass root systems
B. Carrots, radishes & beets
4. Stem Primary Tissues
5. Secondary Growth in Stems
A. Helianthus stem cross section at onset of secondary growth, prepared
slide
Laboratory Materials and Equipment for Student Use
Materials and Equipment
Per
Student
Per Pair of
Students
Per Lab
Group
Per
Room
Microscopes slides
1 box
Microscopes coverslips
1 box
Prepared slides
Onion (Allium cepa) root tip longitudinal
section
1
Coleus shot tip longitudinal section
1
Buttercup (Ranunculus) root cross
section
1
1
Willow (Salix) root cross section – branch
1
Willow (Salix) root cross section – older
1
Sunflower (Helianthus) stem cross
1
1
Sunflower (Helianthus) stem cross
1
Basswood (Tilia americana) stem cross
1
Preparation of laboratory Materials and Reagents
At the beginning of the semester
Purchase or grow
Coleus potted plant
Ranunculus & grass seeds for root system
One week prior to the lab
Razor blades (single-edge)
1 box
Dissecting microscope
1
1
1
Buttercup (Ranunculus) plant with
1
1
1
2 days prior to the lab
Purchase Beets, carrots, & radishes
Questions for Lab #5 Stems and Roots
Use the knowledge you acquired in this lab exercise, along with information from your
textbook, to answer the following questions.
1. What is a meristem? Give the two main functions of apical meristems.
Meristematic cells divide continually by mitosis to produce new cells. Apical
2. What are the three primary meristems derived from the apical meristem and what
mature tissues does each of the three produce?
3. What are primary tissues and what are secondary tissues?
All growth arising directly from apical meristems, through primary meristems, is
4. Give the three areas that can be identified at the tip of a root and the main processes
occurring in each of these three areas.
Behind the root cap is the short length devoid of root hairs comprises the apical
5. What is the stele?
6. What are the functions of the root cap?
7. Define a shoot and a node.
Above ground developing stem consisting of stem and leaves. The area on a stem
8. Where do bud primordia (also known as axillary buds) occur and what is their
function?
The older leaves in the lower part of the stem have shoots (branch stems with leaves)
9. What is a cambium?
10. What is bark and what are its functions?