dictyostele

stele

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June 25, 2026

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A stele is the central vascular portion of a plant's axis. It is also referred to as the vascular cylinder.12

A dictyostele is a specific type of stele where the vascular cylinder is broken into a network of vascular strands surrounding a central pith. This arrangement is found in many ferns. The term "dictyostele" was introduced by botanist George Brebner around 1902.3

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fern
Vascular tissues
…common ferns possess a “dictyostele,” consisting of vascular strands interconnected in such a manner that, in any given cross section of stem, several distinct bundles can be observed. These are separated by regions filled with parenchyma cells known as leaf gaps. There are, however, numerous “siphonostelic” ferns, in which…
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…common ferns possess a “dictyostele,” consisting of vascular strands interconnected in such a manner that, in any given cross section of stem, several distinct bundles can be observed. These are separated by regions filled with parenchyma cells known as leaf gaps. There are, however, numerous “siphonostelic” ferns, in which…
Read More