STEM

Question 1

The ______ develops to form the stem. Thus stem is an aerial part of the plant.

Answer 1

Plumule

Question 2

Stem has got the following characteristics:

Answer 2

• It is ascending axis of the plant and
  phototropic in nature.
• It consists of nodes, internodes and buds.
• It gives rise to branches, leaves and flowers.
• Stems may be aerial, sub-aerial and
  underground.

Question 3

When the stems are thin and long, they are
unable to stand erect

Answer 3

Weak stems

Question 4

Types of Weak stems

Answer 4

Creepers or Prostate stem
Climbers
Twinners

Question 5

When they grow flat on the ground with or without roots, e.g. grasses, gokharu, etc.

Answer 5

Creepers or Prostate stem

Question 6

These are too weak to stand alone. They climb on the support with the help of ten-drils, hooks, prickles or roots, e.g. Piper betel, Piper longum

Answer 6

Climbers

Question 7

These coil the support and grow further. They are thin and wiry, i.e. ipomoea

Answer 7

Twinners

Question 8

These are the normal stems and may be soft or hard a

Answer 8

Herbaceous and woody stems

Question 9

Underground modifications of stems

Answer 9

Rhizomes
Tubers
Bulb
Corm

Question 10

Grow horizontal under the soil

Answer 10

Rhizomes

Question 11

characterized by the presence of ‘eyes’ from the vegetative buds

Answer 11

Tubers

Question 12

the food material is stored in fleshy scales that overlap the stem

Answer 12

Bulb

Question 13

generally stout, and grow in vertical direction

Answer 13

Corm

Question 14

Sub-aerial modifications of stems

Answer 14

Runner
Stolon
Offsets
Sucker

Question 15

These creep on the ground and root at the
nodes

Answer 15

Runner

Question 16

These are lateral branches arising from the
base of the stems which grow horizontally

Answer 16

Stolon

Question 17

These originate from the axil of the leaf as short, thick horizontal branches and also characterized by the presence of rosette type leaves and a cluster of roots at their bottom, e.g. aloe, valerian.

Answer 17

Offsets

Question 18

These are lateral branches developed from underground stems

Answer 18

Sucker

Question 19

Aerial modification of stems

Answer 19

Phylloclade
Thorns and prickles
Stem tendrils
Bulbils

Question 20

At times, the stem becomes green and performs the function of leaves

Answer 20

Phylloclades

Question 21

This is another type of aerial modification meant for protection.

Answer 21

Thorns and prickles

Question 22

In certain plants, the buds develop into tendrils for the purpose of support.

Answer 22

Stem tendrils

Question 23

These are modifications of floral buds meant for vegetative propagation, such as Dioscorea and Agave

Answer 23

Bulbils

Question 24

Uses of stems

Answer 24

• either used as food spices or for culinary purposes.
• used as fodder.
• sources of industrial fibres used for various purposes.
• used as rubber.
• used as drugs.
• are injured to produce gums for their multiple industrial uses.