Plant stem

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/plant-stem

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What do plant stems do for a plant?Plant stems act like strong supports that keep the plant upright. They also carry water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves and move food made in the leaves to other parts of the plant.
2. Why are woody stems stronger than herbaceous stems?Woody stems grow extra layers of wood and have a lot of lignin in their cell walls. This makes them thicker and much stronger than the flexible stems of many herbs.

Vascular Cambium: A lateral meristem responsible for secondary growth, producing secondary xylem and phloem.
Lignin: A complex polymer that strengthens plant cell walls, particularly in woody tissues.
Water Potential: A measure of the free energy of water, determining its movement from one area to another.