7 Anatomical Differences Between Stem And Root Cross Section

In some cases, stems and roots look identical. So what's the difference between a stem and root cross section?

One may be easily tempted to say that stems are above ground and roots below ground, that's not entirely true. One huge difference is that stems bear leaves while roots don't bear leaves.

After reading this article, you'll be well-prepared to develop a beautiful plant garden on your property that is edged nicely with brick or some other material.

Here are some of the ways in which you can differentiate between stems and roots. Let's start by defining the two:

Stem

This is the part of a plant that lies above the surface of the soil. It's known to rise from the plumule to the embryo.

A stem shows positively phototropic and negative geotropic growth. They consist of both nodes and internodes. Flowers, branches, leaves and bracts are developed from nodes.

Root

The root is the part of a plant that lies below the surface of the soil. It's known to rise from the radical of the embryo.

Roots show positively geotropic and negatively phototropic growth. It should be noted that roots are not divided into nodes and internodes.

Similarities between stems and roots

Both contain vascular tissues, namely xylem and phloem, which act as the circulatory system of the plant.

Both stems and roots are capable of initiating lateral growth, which means they are able to form branches.

Differences between stems and roots

1. Vascular Tissues

In herbaceous stems, vascular tissues are contained in bundles which sit near the surface of the stem.

In roots, the vascular tissues are known to form a central location or core where they protect themselves from harsh conditions.

2. Origin of Branches

In stems, side branches are known to arise from axillary buds. These buds can be found where the leaf attaches to the stem.

Lateral roots on the other hand rise from deep within the root's tissues. Roots don't have buds and nodes.

3. Epidermal Cells

In stems, epidermal cells are cutinized inside the stem. In roots, epidermal cells are not cutinized.

4. Epidermis Function

The function of the epidermis in stems is to protect. In roots, the function of the epidermis is to absorb water and nutrients.

5. Root Hairs

In stems, root hairs are unicellular or multicellular. In roots, root hairs are always unicellular.

6. Hypodermis

The hypodermis is present in stems while absent in roots.

7. Outer Cortical Cells

Outer cortical cells in stems have chloroenchyma, while it's completely absent in roots.

These are some of the notable differences between stems and roots.

Althea Rose of Sharon - Care & General Info

Rose of Sharon, also known as Shrub Althea, makes and produces a very colorful flower during summer and fall. The deciduous shrub is upright, has multiple stems, and grows to about 8-12 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide.

Care & General Info

The flowers of the Althea bloom in late summer to fall. It has several different colors depending on which variety it belongs.

The plant shows a good tolerance to pollution, and it is ideal to plant in urban gardens. The flowers display a contrast in colour at the center which enhances its beauty.

Some special features of this plant are:

• it is very easy to take care of
• it is low maintenance

In choosing a site for these plants to grow, you need to place it in a full sun to partial shade location, with soil that is moist. It should be planted in well-drained soil to avoid any damage to the plant.

You can prune and shape the plant as you see fit, whether to keep it in its typical form or to just let it grow naturally into a vase-like form.

It is also great to prune some parts of these plants during early spring to strengthen and develop new flowering stems.

See this informative video on Rose of Sharon:

When planting these plants, you need to follow the right procedure. The following procedure shows the correct way of handling and planting the Rose of Sharon. For more tips, see this article.

• It is important to plant during spring or fall.
• You need to allow proper spacing depending on the expected size at maturity of the plant.
• Dig a hole that is not too deep and a space that is wide.
• If your soil is in poor condition, add compost to it to make the soil conditions ideal for planting.
• Carefully remove the plant from the container and place it in the hole with the soil filled halfway.
• Water the soil to prevent air pockets in the soil.
• Drain the water, fill the upper half with soil and water the plant completely.

For plants to grow properly, they need to be cared for properly. It turns out that Althea Rose of Sharon varieties are easy to take care of.

After planting, you will need to follow up with the plant every now and then to see its progress and tend to its needs. Now start growing your Rose of Sharon and enjoy its aesthetic.

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