Question

palm is a monocotylednous plant,yet it increases in girth.how is it possible?

Answer 1

• In plants, the increase in girth is called secondary growth. Primary growth involves increasing in length.
• Secondary plant growth allows a plant to increase its girth through lateral meristems. Plants exhibiting secondary growth contain a vascular cambium.
• Monocots do not increase in girth except Palm, Corn, Bamboo etc.
• Palms do not have a vascular cambium and do not exhibit secondary growth by the production of concentric annual rings. They cannot increase in girth by adding lateral layers of cells as in conifers and woody dicots.
• Rather than use a vascular cambium to achieve stem girth, palms will produce large, thickened cells around the base of their stem to provide enhanced support.