Buds and meristems

Meristems allow the plants to develop.They are small groups of undifferentiated cells which divide. In the other part of the plants, the cells have stopped dividing and are differentiated according to their position in the plant: surface cells (epiderm), padding cells parenchyma), sap conducting cells (Phloem, Xylem).

These meristems are in the buds, at the ends of the roots and over the length of the stems and roots (lateral meristems induce growth in thickness).

Axillary buds: these buds are located at the base of the leaves.

Apical buds: located at the extremity of the stem.

Adventitious buds: plant cells will dedifferentiate and produce a new meristem which will develop a bud (adventitious buds) and then a stem, or a root. Those stems or roots are than called adventitious stems or roots.


Vegetative reproduction

Let us quote, for example, the lily of the valley which reproduces thanks to the development of axillary buds located at the level of rhizomes (underground stems). Other plants can develop adventitious buds on their roots.

And you probably know the multiplication of plants obtained by cuttings or by layering.