Question

Bamboo, grass and mint stem elongate by the activity of

• A. Primary meristem
• B. Secondary meristem
• C. Intercalary meristem
• D. Apical meristem

Answer 1

The correct option is C Intercalary meristem

Primary meristem is derived from promeristem or embryonic meristem and produces primary permanent tissues of the primary plant body. It does not account stem elongation, which in turn is caused by the increase in internodal length.

Secondary meristem develops from permanent tissues during secondary growth and gives rise to secondary tissues, which in turn cause the increase in girth of the plant. Apical meristem is present at the tips of root and shoot and give rise to primary permanent tissue systems.

The apical meristem, which is separated from apices due to formation of permanent tissues in between, is termed as intercalary meristem. It is intermodal in position and carries out localized growth. The intercalary meristem is present between the sheath and lamina of grasses (bamboo and other grass) and in internodes of mint and causes stem elongation. Thus, the correct answer is option C.