The stem consists of three tissue systems, the dermal, ground, and the fascicular or vascular.
In conifers and dicots, the vascular system appears as a hollow cylinder. The vascular bundles are separated from each other by
interfascicular parenchyma that connect the pith and the cortex. This tissue is called interfascicular because it occurs between
the bundles or fasciciles. Monocots generally have a more complex arrangement of vascular
tissues than those found in most dicots.
|
|
|
| Transvers - Radial - Tangential | Wood stem - 2 year |
 |
 |
|
| L.S. - note secondary wall formation | Woody stem - note phloem |
 |
 |
|
| Radial section - note rays | Tangential section - note rays |
 |  |
| Monocot stem | Herbaceous dicot stem |
