NOTE

B I O L O G Y
ANATOMY OF FLOWERING
PLANTS
INTRODUCTION TO TISSUES, MERISTEMATIC TISSUES,
PERMANENT TISSUES (SIMPLE PERMANENT -
PARENCHYMA, COLLENCHYMA, SCLERENCHYMA)

Key Takeaways

Cells and tissues Meristematic tissue Permanent tissue

Promeristem Parenchyma

Primary meristem Sclerenchyma

Apical meristem Collenchyma

Intercalary meristem

Secondary meristem

Lateral meristem

Cells and Tissues

Cells

• The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms.
• Every living organism is made up of cells.

Tissues
• Tissue is a group of cells that have a common:
Plant cell
‣ Origin
‣ Structure
‣ Function
• Tissues come together to form an organ.

Plant tissues

Meristematic tissue Permanent tissue

Actively dividing Cells are not actively

cells dividing

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Meristematic Tissue

• Meristematic cells are unspecialized, actively dividing cells that are present in the growing
parts of the plant body.
• ‘Meristem’ comes from the Greek word ‘meristos’ which means ‘to divide’.
• In plants, the growth is limited to certain specialised regions, where the meristematic cells are
present, like the tips of roots, stems, and some other parts like leaves, flowers, and fruits.

Thin cell walls

Features of Dividing cells

meristematic cells Large nucleus
No intercellular
space
Meristematic tissue Dense cytoplasm
under the microscope

Types of meristematic tissues

• There are different types of meristematic tissues based on different aspects.

Based on growth stage Location of the promeristems

(i) Promeristems
• The promeristems are responsible for embryonic growth.
• These are responsible for the growth of the embryonic roots
and shoots during germination.
• They are short-lived and only exist until the seed germinates
into a young plant.
Embryonic growth

(ii) Primary meristems

• Once the seedling grows into a young plant, the
promeristems give rise to the primary meristems.
• They are responsible for primary growth and increase in the
root and shoot length.
• Apical meristem
‣ It is a type of primary meristem found at the tips of
the roots and the shoots.
Primary growth
‣ It gives rise to primary tissues.
‣ Shoot apical meristem Shoot apical Leaf
meristematic zone primordium
- Responsible for the growth of
leaves and other aerial parts Axillary bud
of the plants.
Shoot apical meristems
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‣ Axillary buds are formed from leftover

meristematic cells. New shoots or
branches or even flowers can form
from these buds. Apical meristems
‣ Root apical meristem - Responsible for Root cap
the growth of the root.
Root apical meristems
(iii) Secondary meristems
• The plant grows from a young tender plant to a thick, woody,
hard tree because of secondary meristems.
• They are responsible for the formation of secondary tissues and
increase in the girth of the plant.
• Lateral meristems (Cambium)
‣ They are a type of secondary meristem.
Secondary growth
Lateral meristem
(Cambium)

Fascicular vascular Interfascicular

Cork cambium
cambium cambium

‣ These meristems add girth to the branches and stems.

‣ They are cylindrical or parallel to the side of stems or branches.
‣ They are found in the mature regions of the roots and stems
and gives rise to the woody axis of the plants. Lateral meristem
‣ They are present only in dicot plants.
Location of lateral meristems
Based on location

Apical meristems

Intercalary meristems
Lateral meristems
• Intercalary meristem
‣ It is present between mature tissues at the nodes of the stem.
‣ It is responsible for the elongation of internodes (Nodes are the parts of the stem
from where branches/leaves arise. The internodes are the regions between two nodes).
‣ It occurs in grasses and regenerates parts removed by the grazing herbivores.

Internodes
Zone of elongation
Nodes
Intercalary meristem
Intercalary meristem
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Did you know?

Meristematic cells are the only cells that are not affected by viruses.

Permanent Tissue

• The cells of the permanent tissues lose the power of division temporarily or permanently.

Types of permanent tissues

Simple Complex

Made up of only one type of cells Made up of different types of cells

Simple permanent tissue

• Simple permanent tissue is composed of only

one type of cells and is thus homogeneous.
• It is formed by primary meristems.
Identical cells Simple tissue
Formation of simple permanent tissue
from identical cells

Types of simple permanent tissues

Parenchyma Collenchyma Sclerenchyma

(a) Parenchyma

• Parenchyma is derived from the Greek word ‘para’ which means ‘beside’.
• It is a major part of all organs of the plant and is the most commonly found plant tissue.
• The cells of the parenchyma tissue are diverse and versatile.

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• Characteristics of parenchyma are as:

‣ The cells are generally isodiametric having equal diameters or axes.
‣ The cells vary in shape.

Shapes of parenchyma cells

Round Oval Polygonal Pillar-like

‣ They have thin cell walls made up of ‣ The cell walls have
cellulose and in some cases, pectin too. very less or no intercellular spaces.

Thin cell walls

Parenchyma tissue
Functions of parenchyma

Photosynthesis Storage Secretion Gaseous exchange

Chlorenchyma Stored starch

Parenchyma tissue They help in the Parenchymal cells The spongy mesophyll
which performs storage of reserve with a secretory of leaves is made of
photosynthesis are food like starch. function line the parenchymal cells
known as E.g., Starch in potato insides of resin which have large
chlorenchyma. The ducts. intercellular spaces
cells have abundant that help in exchange
chloroplasts. of gases.

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Aerenchyma
• Aerenchyma is a modification of parenchyma.
• It is a spongy tissue that is made up of cells with very large intercellular
spaces. It is found in the leaves, stems, and roots of some plants and
helps in buoyancy.
Aerenchyma
(b) Collenchyma
• Collenchyma is derived from the Greek word ‘kolla’ which means ‘glue’.
• Collenchyma tissue is made up of living cells filled with water.
‣ The pressure of the water against the cell walls creates a stiffness.
(This stiffness gives rise to the crunchiness of a stalk of celery.)
• It is found either as a homogeneous layer or in patches.
• Collenchyma forms a layer under the epidermis in most herbaceous Collenchyma
dicotyledon stems.
• Cell wall is made up of: Epidermis
‣ Cellulose
‣ Hemicellulose
‣ Pectin
• There are no intercellular spaces between cells due to pectin deposits.
Collenchyma

Shape of collenchyma cells

Round Oval Polygonal

• Functions of collenchyma are as follows:

‣ Help in photosynthesis.
‣ Provide mechanical support (tensile strength).
‣ Provide elasticity to plant parts such as a young stem and the petiole of a leaf.
They help to resist the bending action of the wind.

Did you know?

Both parenchyma and collenchyma can become meristematic again. This occurs when repair
of tissues is required.
Simple Permanent
Meristem
Tissue

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(c) Sclerenchyma

• Sclerenchyma consists of cells with thick and lignified cell walls

having a few or numerous pits.
• They are usually dead and without protoplasts.
• These provide mechanical support to organs.
• Cell wall is made up of
‣ Cellulose
‣ Hemicellulose
‣ Lignin
♦ Lignin is a very complex organic substance and the
second most commonly found substance (after cellulose).
♦ It is insoluble in water and is impermeable to water.

♦ It is found as a thick deposition on the cells

♦ It provides rigidity.

• It is found in stems, leaves, seed coats, fruit pulp, and fruit wall.
• Types of Sclerenchyma
◙ Based on form, origin, structure, and development, it is of two types:

‣ Sclereids or sclerenchymatous cells

‣ Fibres
(a) Sclereids
• They have highly thickened walls.
• They have a narrow cavity (lumen). Lumen
• They are of different shapes. Thick cell wall
• Based on the different shapes, sclereids can be classified
Sclereid
into the following types:

(i) Astrosclereids
• Astrosclereids are rare sclereids found in specialised tissues
(E.g., the floating leaves of water lily).
• They have an irregular shape with branches and pointed ends.
• Astrosclereids are not a common type of sclereid.
Macrosclereids
(ii) Macrosclereids
• They are large rod-shaped sclereids.
• They are a part of the outer layer of the seed coats of
leguminous plants.

(iii) Brachysclereids
• They are isodiametric cells which resemble parenchyma cells in shape.
• The cells are non-living and have a large secondary cell wall.
• They are also known as stone cells because they form the grit in fruits
like pear.
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(iv) Trichosclereids
• They are hard needle-like branched cells found in some species
of plants that serve the purpose of protecting the plant from
herbivores. (E.g., Aerial roots of Monstera)
• They are long and hair-shaped.

(v) Osteosclereids
• Osteosclereids are also known as bone cells because of their
characteristic shape like a bone.
• They form the hypodermal layer in seeds, fruits, and leaves of some
plants (dicots).
(b) Fibres
• They are elongated cells.
Simple pit
‣ Have tapering ends
‣ Middle is bulged Lignified thick
• Cell walls are thick and have lignin deposits in them. wall
• They generally occur in groups.

• The cell wall has pits that help in intercellular communication.

Pits are of two types: Bordered pit
‣ Simple pit - Cavity has a uniform width.
‣ Bordered pit - Cavity is broader towards the base Pit borders
and has a narrow opening.

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Summary Sheet

Cells (basic building blocks of all

living organisms)

Tissues (groups of cells)

Meristematic tissue Permanent tissue

(actively dividing cells) (cells which do not actively divide)

Promeristem Primary Secondary Simple Complex

(responsible meristems meristems (made up of (made up of
for embryonic (responsible (responsible one type of different types
growth) for primary for increase in cells) of cells)
growth and the girth)
elongation of
the roots and
shoots)

Lateral Parenchyma Collenchyma Sclerenchyma Xylem

Meristems (soft tissue (consist of (dead
(present found in cells mechanical
Phloem
parallel or softer parts thickened at tissue)
cylindrical to of leaf, fruits, corners and
the side of etc.) that provide
the stems or mechanical
branches) support)

Apical Intercalary Fibres Sclereids

Meristems meristems (elongated cells (cells with
(present at (responsible that provide thickened walls
the tips of for growth of support to plants) and a narrow
the growing internodes) lumen)
roots and
shoots)

Astrosclereids Macrosclereids Brachysclereids Trichosclereids Osteosclereids

(branched, (rod-shaped, (irregularly (needle-like, (cells shaped
star- shaped, found on outer shaped, made branched, like bones,form
found in float- layer of seed entirely of protects the hypodermal
ing plants) coats) secondary cell plants from layer in seeds,
walls) herbivores) fruits, etc.)

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