Stems | animals

Plant stems support leaves and transport water and nutrients as well as store water and food.

Heartwood or pith is the older primary xylem. this no longer transfers water.

Vascular bundles are made up of xylem which transfers water and is also made up of phloem which transfers food.

Sapwood is the new secondary xylem and is a light color which still contains water.

Bark is what protects woody stems. it is made of cork, cork cambium and phloem.

Cactus stores food and water for the plant, they have spines that are like leaves.

Rhizomes are underground stem which grows horizontally though soil. Rhizomes are like iris and lotus flowers.

Bulbs are stems that can store food, an example of a bulb are onions, tulips and daffodils.

Corm is a short and swallen underground plant stem that is used as food storage. An example of a corm is crocuses and gladiolas.

Stolon is a slender stem that grow above ground. these are you average strawberries.