explain the location,structure and function of meristematic tissue in plant body with a labelled diagram.

Meristematic Tissues

Meristematic tissues are cells or group of cells that have the ability to divide. These tissues in a plant consist of small, densely packed cells that can keep dividing to form new cells. Meristems give rise to permanent tissues and have the following characteristics:

• the cells are small
• the cells walls are thin
• cells have large nuclei
• vacuoles are absent or very small
• there are no intercellular spaces

Meristematic tissueis just tissue that is capable of dividing. It can be found at the growing tips (roots andstems), at the base of some leaves, in the stems of woody plants (where it is called a cambium instead of a meristem), and a few other places.

Types of meristem-:

Apical meristems: They are present at the tips of stems, roots and branches. They are responsible for the axial growth in a plant.

Intercalary meristems: They are present at the base of theinternodes. They are responsible for the growth of the internodal region.

Lateral meristems: They are present on the lateral side of stems and roots. They are responsible for the radial growth of plants.Vascular cambiumandcork cambiumare examples of lateral meristem.