SECONDARY MERISTEM Meaning and
Definition
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Secondary meristem refers to a specialized region of actively dividing cells located in the growth regions of plants, capable of producing new cells, tissues, and organs throughout the plant's lifespan. Unlike primary meristems, which are responsible for primary growth, secondary meristems contribute to secondary growth, leading to an increase in plant girth or diameter, also known as lateral growth.
Secondary meristems are found in woody plants, primarily in the vascular cambium and cork cambium. The vascular cambium is responsible for the production of secondary xylem (wood) towards the interior and secondary phloem (inner bark) towards the exterior. This process results in the annual concentric rings seen in tree trunks and provides structural support for the plant. The cork cambium, on the other hand, is responsible for producing cork cells towards the exterior, creating a protective layer known as the periderm.
Secondary meristems play a crucial role in allowing plants to adapt to environmental changes, providing additional resources and structural support. By producing new xylem and phloem, secondary meristems aid in the transportation of water, nutrients, and sugars throughout the plant. Furthermore, the new cork cells produced by the cork cambium ensure protection against physical damage, pathogen invasion, and excessive water loss.
Overall, secondary meristems are essential for the growth and development of woody plants, contributing to their strength, longevity, and adaptation to various environmental conditions.
Common Misspellings for SECONDARY MERISTEM
- aecondary meristem
- zecondary meristem
- xecondary meristem
- decondary meristem
- eecondary meristem
- wecondary meristem
- swcondary meristem
- sscondary meristem
- sdcondary meristem
- srcondary meristem
- s4condary meristem
- s3condary meristem
- sexondary meristem
- sevondary meristem
- sefondary meristem
- sedondary meristem
- secindary meristem
- seckndary meristem
- seclndary meristem
- secpndary meristem
Etymology of SECONDARY MERISTEM
The word "secondary" comes from the Latin word "secundus", which means "following" or "second". It is derived from the verb "sequi", meaning "to follow".
The term "meristem" is derived from the Greek word "meristos", which means "divisible". It is derived from the verb "merizein", meaning "to divide".
Therefore, the etymology of the word "secondary meristem" can be understood as a combination of the Latin word "secundus", meaning "second" or "following", and the Greek word "meristem", meaning "divisible". In botanical terms, it refers to a type of meristem that develops after the primary meristem and gives rise to secondary growth in plants.
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