EXERCISE 14

EXTERNAL MORPHOLOGY OF A STEM

Name: Viñas, Lian Marie C. Course/Year: Bio-1

DICOT STEM
OBJECTIVE
To identify the external parts of a dicot stem
SPECIMENS
Dama de noche (Cestrum nocturnum) or gumamela (Hisbiscus rosa-sinensis)
PROCEDURE
Cut a portion of your specimen and carefully examine the external parts of the stem.
RESULTS
1. Draw a portion of a dicot stem and label its parts
QUESTIONS:
1. What are leaf scars? What are they for?
A leaf scar is the mark left by a leaf after it falls off the twig. It marks the site where the petiole attached
to the stem. In winter or from collections of their twigs, leaf scars may be used to classify tree species.
As branches come from axillary buds situated above leaf scars, a leaf scar is usually located below a 
branch.

2. What are the small pores found in the leaf scar? What are they for?
Tiny pores that are found on the leaves' surface are called stomata. 

Transpiration and gaseous exchange for photosynthesis are two main functions, and respiration also

 takes place through them.

3. What are buds? What are they for?

Bud, A small lateral or terminal protuberance that may grow into 

a flower, leaf, or shoot on the stem of a vascular plant. Meristem tissue develops from buds. 

In temperate climates, in preparation for winter, trees form resting buds which are resistant to frost. 

Flower buds are leaves that are modified.

4. What type of bud is present in your specimen?

In the gumamela plant it has an axillary bud and apical bud.

5. Compare the external anatomy of a monocot with that of a dicot stem by completing
the table below.

Parts Monocot Stem Dicot Stem

Nodes Monocots have one Dicots have two cotelydon.
cotelydon.
Internodes Monocots have internodes Same as the monocot, the
which is the length of the dicot stems have internodes
stem and the nodes between the stem and the
nodes.
Lenticels Lenticels are absent in Lenticels are absent in
 monocot stem. herbaceous dicot stems,
however present in woody
dicot stems.
Leaf Scars Leaf scars are only present in Leaf scars are indication of
woody monocot stems. leaves that have fallen from
the stem.
Bundle Scars Monocot do not have bundle Dicot have bundle scars that
scars. is within the leaf scars.
Buds Buds are not so common in Buds are prominent in dicot
monocot stems. stems.

MONOCOT

OBJECTIVE
To clarify the external parts of a monocot stem
SPECIMEN
Cogon (Imperata cylindica) or Chinese bamboo (Schizostachyum branchycladium)
RESULTS

1. Draw a portion of a monocot stem and label its parts.

QUESTIONS
1. What do you call lower part of the leaf which encloses part of the stem?
-Leaf base. It is a slightly enlarged area where the leaf sticks to the stem is the leaf foundation. 

The leaf base becomes thickened in the petiole when present, and sometimes the latter extends the 

stem laterally and entirely or partially.

2. Did you find the lenticels? Describe their appearance and functions.

_No, because lenticels are present in woody plant like the Chinese bamboo plant.__

_Lenticels are spores in the plant stem, it allows exchange of gas between the_____

environment and the internal tissue spaces of organs in the stem. It is the entrance of

oxygen and the exit path of carbon dioxide.___________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________
 EXERCISE 16
SPECIALIZED STEMS

OBJECTIVE
To recognize the different kinds of specialized stems
SPECIMEN
Ginger (Zingiber officinale), camia (hedychium coronarium), potato, rose, squash or
ampalaya stems. Stick plant (Euphorbia Tirucalli), suha (Citrus maxima), elodea, cadena de amor
(Antigonon Leptopus)

PROCEDURE
1. Examine thoroughly the specimens and take note of the part where you find the
modifications.
2. Drawnthe specialized stems and indicate the type of specialization.

PROCEDURE
Draw and identify the different specialized stems

_Ginger (Zingiber officinale)- (Rhizome)____ ____ __Potato-(Tuber)______________

_______Squash-(Tendril)__________________ ____Ampalaya stems-(Tendril)________

_____ Suha (Citrus maxima)-(Torns)_____________ ______ cactus-(spines)______________

________Rose-
(Prickles)__________________
________Elodea-(Stolon)____________
 ______Yellow lily-(from lily bulb)______________

QUESTIONS
1. How would you differentiate a potato (Solanum tuberosum) from a sweet potato
(Ipomoea batatas)?
Both potatoes and sweet potatoes are native to America, belong to tuberous plants and look more or 

less similar to each other. Botanically related, they are not associated with each other. 

The potato is a night-shade plant (Solanum tuberosum), but the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)

belongs to the bindweed tribe.

2. In bulbs, which part of the stem stores food?

A corm is commonly referred to as a bulb, but a corm is not really a real bulb. 

Corms are thick and have no layers like a bulb does. It has swollen segments that 

store food for the plant instead. Such segments are located in the base stem of a bulb shaped.

3. What is the main function of underground stems?

Underground stems are modified plants which, under the soil surface, derive from stem tissue but exist. 

They act as food and nutrient storage tissues, new clone propagation, and perennial survival (survival 

from one growing season to the next).

DICOT MONOCOT

(gumamela) (cogon grass)

SPECIALIZED STEMS:

GINGER POTATO SQUASH

AMPALAYA SUHA CACTUS

ROSE ELODEA

YELLO LILY