Introduction to Secondary Growth in Plants

Secondary Growth

Growth that increases plant girth through lateral meristems.

Primary Growth

Growth that increases plant length via apical meristems.

Vascular Tissues

Tissues responsible for transport of water and nutrients.

Dermal Tissues

Outer protective layer of plant structures.

Lateral Meristems

Meristems responsible for secondary growth in plants.

Phellogen

Meristematic layer forming the periderm in plants.

Phelloderm

Cells growing inward from phellogen layer.

Phellem

Cork cells developing outward from phellogen.

Vascular Cambium

Lateral meristem producing secondary xylem and phloem.

Initials

Meristematic cells in vascular cambium that divide.

Secondary Xylem

Tissue produced inward by vascular cambium initials.

Secondary Phloem

Tissue produced outward by vascular cambium initials.

Fusiform Initials

Elongated initials in vascular cambium producing xylem.

Ray Initials

Short initials in vascular cambium producing rays.

Storied Cambium

Vascular cambium organized in distinct layers.

Non-storied Cambium

Vascular cambium lacking distinct layering.

Cambial Activity

Division and differentiation processes in vascular cambium.

Early Secondary Growth

Initial stages of secondary growth in stems and roots.

Cambial Origin

Initiation point of vascular cambium in plants.

Cambial Result

Outcomes of vascular cambium activity in tissues.