Question

A plant shows scattered vascular bundles in the cross section of it's stem. Which other characteristics can be expected in the same plant?

• A. Exarch xylem
• B. Undifferentiated ground tissue
• C. Large pith
• D. Casparian thickening
• E. Cambium

Answer 1

The correct option is B Undifferentiated ground tissue

The presence of scattered vascular bundle is the characteristic feature of a monocot stem while dicot stem has vascular bundles arranged in a ring.

Both monocot and dicot stem has endarch xylem.

The ground tissues in dicot stem are well differentiated into cortex, endodermis, pericycle and pith but undifferentiated in monocot stem.

Dicot stem has pith with thin walled parenchymatous cells but monocot stem lacks it.

Undifferentiated ground tissues of monocot stem have no endodermis and therefore no Casparian strips.

Monocots lack secondary growth, thus no cambium. Thus, the correct answer is option B.