adaxial meristem

plant anatomy

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July 23, 2026

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The adaxial meristem is a region of actively dividing cells in plants, specifically found in monocotyledons. It plays a crucial role in leaf development, contributing to the formation of flattened leaves that grow in the same plane as the stem.1

Meristems, in general, are plant tissues responsible for growth. They are classified by their location: apical meristems at root and shoot tips, lateral meristems for increasing girth, and intercalary meristems found in stem regions and leaf bases. Meristematic cells are small, metabolically active, and divide to produce new cells that differentiate into various plant tissues. This continuous cell division allows plants to grow throughout their lives.23

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angiosperm
Leaves
…side facing the stem (adaxial meristem). Growth at this adaxial meristem forms the flattened leaf with the radial (cylindrical) leaf tip typical of the monocotyledons. If the adaxial meristem is long-lived (Figure 10), long flat leaves in the same plane as the stem are formed (Iris; Iridaceae); if short-lived…
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…side facing the stem (adaxial meristem). Growth at this adaxial meristem forms the flattened leaf with the radial (cylindrical) leaf tip typical of the monocotyledons. If the adaxial meristem is long-lived (Figure 10), long flat leaves in the same plane as the stem are formed (Iris; Iridaceae); if short-lived…
Read More