LABORATORY5

PLANTANATOMY
AdaptedFrom:Laboratory5:PlantAnatomy(Hodgson2007)

LEARNINGOBJECTIVES
Attheendofthislaboratory,youshouldbeableto:

1.

Makeproperbiologicaldrawingsofeudicotandmonocottissues.

2.

Differentiatebetweenthethreebasictissuetypesfoundinplants(parenchyma,sclerenchyma,
collenchyma),anddescribetheirfunction.

3.

Identifyvariousstructuresfoundinslidepreparationsofroots,stemsandleavesandstatethe
functionofthestructures.

4.

Differentiatebetweenmonocotsandeudicotsintermsofthetissuearrangementoftheroot,shoot
andleaf.

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INTRODUCTION
Allherbaceous(nonwoody)floweringplantsproduceacompleteplantbodycomposedofprimarytissuederived
fromapicalmeristem.Thisplantbodyconsistsoforgans,roots,stems,leaves,flowers,fruitsandseedsand
tissuesystemsdermal(epidermis),ground(parenchymaandsupportivesclerenchymaandcollenchyma)and
vascular(xylemandphloem).Inthislaboratory,youwillobserve,andmakebiologicaldrawingsof,thecellular
structureandorganizationofplantorgansandtissuesbyexaminingmicroscopeslides.
MATERIALS

Slideofeudicotmonocotroots
Slideofeudicotmonocotshoots
Slideofeudicotmonocotstems
Slideofcoleusterminalbud
PROCEDURE
BIOLOGICALDRAWINGSOFPLANTTISSUES
AppendixIIIpresentsareviewofmicroscopeuseandhowtoproduceproperbiologicaldrawings.
*BesuretohavereadthroughthesectiononhowtoproducebiologicaldrawingsinAppendixIIIbefore
proceeding.
LogintotheRWSLmicroscopeduringyourreservedtimeslot.
PLANTPRIMARYGROWTHANDDEVELOPMENT
Plantsproducenewcellsthroughouttheirlifetimeasaresultofcelldivisionsinmeristems.Ameristemisaregion
ofembryonictissueprimarilyconcernedwiththeformationofnewcells.ThewordcomesfromtheGreekword
todivide.Tissuesproducedfromapicalmeristems(atthetipofarootorshoot)arecalledprimarytissues,and
thisgrowthiscalledprimarygrowth.Primarygrowthoccursalongtheplantaxisattheshootandroottips.
Certainmeristemcellsdivideinsuchawaythatonecellproductbecomesanewcellbodyandtheotherremains
inthemeristem.Belowthezoneofactivecelldivision,newcellsbecomeenlargedandspecializedforspecific
functions,resulting,forexample,invessels,parenchyma,andepidermis.
Inthisfirstexercise,youwillexaminealongitudinalsection(l.s.)throughaterminalbudofColeususingthe
remotemicroscope.

Uselowpowertogetanoverviewoftheslide,andthenincreasemagnification.
Locatetheapicalmeristem,adomeoftissuenestledbetweenleafprimordial(youngdevelopingleaves).
Locatetheaxillarybudprimordia(i.e.intheaxil)betweentheleafandthestem.
Movethespecimenunderthemicroscopesothatcellsmaybeviewedatvaryingdistancesfromtheapex
(thetip).Theyoungestcellsareattheapexofthebud,andcellsofincreasingmaturityand
differentiationcanbeseenasyoumoveawayfromtheapex.
Observethelong,narrowbandsofprocambiumrunningthelengthofthesection.Asthismeristematic
tissuedivides,someoftheprogenycellsgoontobecomexylemandphloem.

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Observechangesincellsizeandstructureofthevascularsystemasyoumoveawayfromtheapexand
endwithadistinguishablevesselelementofxylem,withitsspiralcellwallthickeninginthestem.You
mayneedthehighestpower(400X)tolocatethesespiralcellwalls.
AnillustrationofaColeusshoottipisprovidedintheworksheetattheendofthelab(Figure5.1).Label
thestructureslisted.

CELLSTRUCTUREOFPRIMARYTISSUES

Observetheslidesofeudicotandmonocotstems,roots,andleaves.Youarerequiredtomakebiologicaldrawings.
Drawingsmustbemadeinpencil.Eachdrawingmusthaveadrawingmagnificationatthebottomofthepage;
providethecalculationontheback.PleasereviewtheinformationinAppendixIIIregardingbiologicaldrawings.
ROOTS
TYPICALEUDICOTROOT(BUTTERCUPRANUNCULUSSP.)C.S.=CROSSSECTION
SeeBiology,7thed.,2005,figure35.13a.

Theeudicotrootissurroundedbyanouterlayerofthinwalledparenchymacells,calledtheepidermis.
Roothairsmayarisefromthislayer.Theepidermiscontainsnochloroplasts,cuticleorstomata.

Inthecentreoftherootisthevascularcyclinder.Itisenclosedbyasheathofcells,calledthe
endodermis.Betweentheendodermisandtheepidermisarethethinwalledcellsofthecortex,afood
storagetissue.Thecortextakesupmostoftheareainarootcrosssection.

Withinthevascularcylinderarethickwalledxylemcellswhichtransportwaterandminerals.Several
armsofxylem(usuallytwotofiveforaeudicot)radiatefromthecentre.Xylemcellsarelargerandtheir
cellwallsarestainedpinkinthepreparedslide.Betweenthearmsofxylemareclustersofphloemwhich
carrydissolvednutrients.Phloemcellshavethinnercellwallsthatarestainedlightblue.Thepericycleis
asinglelayerofthickwalledcellslyingjustundertheendodermis.Lateralrootsarisefromthepericycle.

Drawing:Makeabiologicaldrawingofthevascularcylinderoftheeudicotroot.Thedrawingshouldbe
madewhileobservingathighpower(400X).Calculatedrawingmagnificationandlabelthefollowing:
endodermis,phloem,xylemandpericycle.

TYPICALMONOCOTROOT,C.S.(CORNZEAMAYS)

SeeBiology,7thed.,2005,figure35.13b.

Thecornproprootissimilartotheeudicotrootandthesametissuescanbeidentified.Noticethe
smaller,thickerwalledcellsjustbelowtheepidermisthatarestainedred/pink.Thesearesupportive
collenchymacells.

Asintheeudicotrootjustviewed,thecortex,consistingofmostlylargeparenchymacells,islocated
betweentheepidermisandtheendodermis.Inthisslide,however,thecentreoftherootconsistsof
pith,whichisalsomadeofparenchymacells.

Thelarge,opencellsjustinsideoftheendodermisarexylem.Thephloemcellsaregenerallylocated
betweentheendodermisandthexylem.

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B.

Drawing:Makeabiologicaldrawingofasectionofthemonocotrootthatincludesasectionofvascular
tissue.Calculatedrawingmagnificationandlabelthefollowingstructures:cortex,endodermis,phloem,
pithandxylem.
STEMS

TYPICALHERBACEOUSEUDICOTSTEM,C.S.(SUNFLOWERHELIANTHUSANNUS)

SeeBiology,7thed.,2005,figure35.16a.

Ineudicotstems,thevasculartissueisfoundinbundlesarrangedinaringneartheouterperimeterofthe
stem.Thephloemliestotheoutsideofthevascularbundleandthexylemistowardthecentreofthe
stem.Eachvascularbundleisshieldedbyadistinctivebundlecapmadeofthickwalledcollenchymacells
thatarestainedadarkredinthepreparedslide.

Ameristemregion,calledthecambium,separatesthexylemfromthephloem.Thecambiumisthesite
ofcelldivision:thosecellstotheinsideofthecambiumbecomexylemcellswhereasthosecellstothe
outsidebecomephloemcells.Acomparativelythinlayerofcortexfillsinthespacebetweenthe
epidermisandthecambium.Thecentreofthestemisoccupiedbypith.

Drawing:Makeabiologicaldrawingofasectionoftheeudicotstem,includingatleastonevascular
bundle.Calculatethedrawingmagnificationandlabelthefollowingstructures:cortex,epidermis,
vascularbundle,xylemandphloem.

TYPICALMONOCOTSTEM,C.S(CORNZEAMAYS)

SeeBiology,7thed.,2005,figure35.16b.

Inthemonocotstem,theepidermisenclosesthecortexinwhichthevascularbundlesarescattered.A
closeupofavascularbundlewillshowxylem,phloem,andanairspace.

Directlyunderlyingtheepidermisiscollenchymatissue,aformofgroundtissue,whichprovidessupport
forthestem.

Drawing:Makeabiologicaldrawingofasectionofthemonocotstem,includingatleastonevascular
bundle.Calculatethedrawingmagnificationandlabelthefollowingstructures:vascularbundle,xylem,
phloem.

C.

LEAVES

TYPICALEUDICOTLEAF,C.S.(LILACSYRINGASP.)
ANDTYPICALMONOCOTLEAF,C.S.(CORNZEAMAYS)

SeeBiology,7thed.,2005,figure35.17c.

Leavesaregenerallyflat,exposingalargesurfaceareatolight,andideallyadaptedforphotosynthesis.
Bothupperandlowersurfacesarelinedwithflatepidermalcellsandareperforatedwithstomatathat
allowforgaseousexchangeforphotosynthesis.Theepidermisfunctionstoprotecttheinsideoftheleaf
frommechanicaldisturbanceandiscoveredbyawaxycuticlewhichreduceswaterloss.

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Stomataareplentifulontheleafsurface,providingfortheexchangeofgasesnecessaryfor
photosynthesis.Eachstoma(opening)issurroundedbytwoguardcellsthatcontroltheopeningand
closingofthestoma.

Incrosssection,thebulkoftheleafareaisoccupiedbygroundtissuecalledmesophyll.

Ineudicotleaves,themesophyllisdividedintotworegions,thepalisadeandthespongymesophyll.
Palisadecellsusuallycontainmorechloroplaststhandootherleafcellsandthereforecarryoutmostof
thephotosynthesis.Thespongymesophyllhaslargeairspaceswhichallowsforrapiddiffusionofgases
throughtheleaf.

Theveinsandthemidveinoftheleafcontainthevasculartissuesmadeupofxylemandphloemcells.
Thesecanberecognizedinthepreparedslideduetotheirdifferentialstaining:xylemstainspinkand
phloemstainsblue.Thesevasculartissuesarecontinuouswiththevascularbundlesofthestem.Inthose
plantsthatcarryoutC4photosynthesis,thevasculartissuesaresurroundedbybundlesheathcells.

Oneofthecharacteristicsofmonocotsisthatleafveinsareparallel.Eachveinhasbothxylemand
phloemtissueandissurroundedbybundlesheathcells.Acapofsclerenchymacellsarelocatedwithin
thebundlesheathandprovidesupportandprotectionofthevasculartissues.Thesecelltypesarebest
differentiatedbyviewingapreparedslideofamonocotleafcrosssection.

Eudicotandmonocotleafcrosssectionillustrationsareprovidedintheworksheetattheendofthelab
(Figure5.6or5.7).Correctlyidentifywhichillustrationisofaeudicotleafandlabelthefollowing
structures:vascularbundle,xylem,phloem,epidermis,cuticle,guardcell,stoma,palisademesophyll,
spongymesophyll.

Correctlyidentifywhichisanillustrationofamonocotleafandlabelthefollowingstructures:vascular
bundle,xylem,phloem,epidermis,cuticle,guardcell,stoma,mesophyll.

Examineapreparedslideofmonocotandeudicotleafcrosssectionsunderthemicroscopeandcalculate
theactualsizeforeachleaftype.Fromthisinformation,calculatethedrawingmagnificationofthe
illustrationsprovidedintheworksheetattheendofthelab.

EVALUATION(58MARKS)

Completethefollowingworksheet.

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Biology103Lab5Worksheet

PLANTANATOMY
Name_______________________

PlantPrimaryGrowth
1.

OnFigure5.1below,identifythefollowingstructuresbyputtingthecorrectletterintheappropriatespace.
(4marks)

FIGURE5.1.COLEUSSTEMTIP(L.S.).

___stemapicalmeristem

___leafprimordia(young)

___leafprimordia(old)

___lateralbudmeristem(axillarymeristems)

___epidermis

___procambium

___groundmeristem

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RootTissues
2.

Submitbiologicaldrawingsofmonocotandeudicotroots.Becertaintolabelallstructuresasindicatedand
haveapropertitleforeachdrawing(seeAppendixIII).(8marks)

3.

Whatisthefunctionoftheendodermisinroottissues?Whatisitsimportancetothesuccessofplantsina
terrestrialenvironment?(2marks)

4.

Notethattheepidermisofarootlacksacuticle.Whymightthisbeadvantageous?(1mark)

5.

Whicharelargerandmoredistinct,xylemorphloemtissues?Why?(2marks)

6.
Isthisaphotomicrographofamonocot
oreudicotroot?(1mark)
_________________
Howdoyouknow?(1mark)
___________________________

FIGURE5.2.ROOTTISSUE(C.S.).

___________________________
___________________________

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7.

FIGURE5.3.ROOTTISSUE(C.S.).

Isthisaphotomicrographofamonocotoreudicotroot?(1mark) ___________________________________
Howdoyouknow?(1mark)__________________________________________________________________
LabelthefollowingstructuresonFigure5.3(2marks):pith,cortex,lateralroot,endodermis,epidermis.

ShootTissues

8.

Whattypesofcellsprovidesupporttothestem?Wherearethesecellslocatedinthestem?(2marks)

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9.
Labelthefollowingstructuresinthe
photomicrograph(2marks):cortex,
epidermis,pith,vascularcambium,xylem,
phloem.

Isthisamonocotoreudicotstem?
(1mark)
_________________
Howdoyouknow?(1mark)

FIGURE5.4.STEMTISSUE(C.S.).

______________________________
______________________________

10.

FIGURE5.5.STEMTISSUE(C.S.).

Identifythestructureslabeledintheillustrationsabove(2marks):
1.___________________

2.___________________

3.___________________

4.___________________

5.___________________

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Isthisamonocotoreudicotstem?Howdoyouknow?Bespecific.(2marks)

11.

Labelthefollowingphotoillustrationsofmonocotandeudicotleavesasdirectedandcalculate
magnificationofthephotoimages(6marks)

b.

a.
FIGURE5.6.LEAFTISSUE(C.S.).

AretheimagesinFigure5.6ofamonocotoreudicotleaf?__________________________________________
Examineapreparedslideofaleafcrosssectionunderthemicroscopeandcalculatetheactualsize.Fromthis
information,calculatethemagnificationofFigure5.6a.

Magnification=______________

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a.

b.

FIGURE5.7.LEAFTISSUE(C.S.).

AretheimagesinFigure5.7ofamonocotoreudicotleaf?__________________________________________
Examineapreparedslideofaleafcrosssectionunderthemicroscopeandcalculatetheactualsize.Fromthis
information,calculatethemagnificationofFigure5.7a.

Magnification=______________

12.

Listthreefunctionsofleaves.(3marks)

1) __________________________________________________________________________________

2) __________________________________________________________________________________

3) __________________________________________________________________________________

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13.

Fortwoofthefunctionslistedabove,provideevidencefromyourobservationsofleafstructuretosupport
thehypothesisthatstructureandfunctionarerelated.Bespecificinyourexamples.(2marks)

14.

Intheleafsections,aremorestomatafoundonthelowersurfacesoftheleavesthanontheupper
surfaces?Explainwhythisisso.(2mark)

15.

Thepithandthecortexaremadeupofparenchymacells.Listfourfunctionsofthiscelltype.(4marks)

1) __________________________________________________________________________________

2) __________________________________________________________________________________

3) __________________________________________________________________________________

4) __________________________________________________________________________________

16.Compareandcontrastthethreegroundtissues(parenchyma,collenchymaandsclerenchyma)inrelationto
theirformandfunction.(6marks).

18.Sclerenchymaincludesbothsclereidsandfibersthatmakethemusefulforspecificcommercialapplications.
Listatleasttwocommercialproductsthataremadeusingthesecells,andtheplantsassociatedwiththese
productions.(2marks).

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