Deck 6: Stems

Question 1

If the cambium of a tropical tree were active all year long, how would its wood differ from that of a typical temperate climate tree?

Answer 1

The cambium of a tropical tree was active all year long. Its wood differs from typical temperate climate tree because the trees which grow in temperate regions differ with definite seasons which form one growth ring per year.
Trees in tropical climate show less seasonal change which grow continuously and do not show any growth rings. The climatic conditions strongly influence the formation of the growth rings.
Thus the tropical wood differ from the typical temperate climate tree.

Question 2

What is the function of bud scales?

Answer 2

The angle between petiole and the stem contains a bud. The angle is called an axil. If the bud is located in the axil it is called an axillary bud. In angiosperm (flowering plants) the axillary buds become branched. These buds are protected by scales called bud scales. The bud scales can vary from one to several. And these bud scales falls off when the tissue grows.

Question 3

It was mentioned that a nail driven into the side of a tree will remain at exactly the same distance from the ground for the life of the tree. Why?

Answer 3

When a nail is driven into the side of a tree it will remain exactly at the same distance from the ground throughout the life of the tree. This is because the new tissue is added at the ends of the twigs. Leaves form as buds which open and grow. Trees grow taller from the ends of their twigs and not from their trunks.
Hence the nail would be at the same distance from the ground throughout the life.

Question 4

How can you tell the age of a twig?

Question 5

Do climbing plants have any advantages over erect plants? Any disadvantages?

Question 6

Distinguish among procambium, vascular cambium, and cork cambium.

Question 7

If two leaves are removed from a plant and one is coated with petroleum jelly while the other is not, the uncoated leaf will shrivel considerably sooner than the coated one. Would it be helpful to coat the stems of young trees with petroleum jelly? Explain.

Question 8

How can you tell, when you look at a cross section of a young stem, whether it is a dicot or a monocot?

Question 9

Suggest some reasons for heartwood being preferred to sapwood for making furniture.

Question 10

What are laticifers?

Question 11

An Irish or white potato is a stem, but a sweet potato is a root. How can you tell?

Question 12

Distinguish among corms, bulbs, and tubers.

Question 13

If you were examining the top of a wooden desk, how could you tell if the wood had been radially or tangentially cut (quartersawed or plain-sawed)?

Question 14

What differences are there between heartwood and sapwood?

Question 15

What is meant by the specific gravity of wood?