lateral meristem

plant anatomy

Also known as: secondary meristem

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Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

A lateral meristem is a type of plant tissue responsible for increasing the diameter of an organ, such as a stem or root. Unlike apical meristems, which are found at the tips of roots and shoots and contribute to primary growth (lengthening), lateral meristems are arranged parallel to the sides of the organ and drive secondary growth, adding girth and bulk.123

The two main types of lateral meristems are the vascular cambium and the cork cambium. The vascular cambium produces secondary xylem (wood) and secondary phloem (inner bark), which are crucial for support and transport. The cork cambium generates cork cells, forming the outer protective layer of bark. This secondary growth allows plants, particularly woody ones, to increase in thickness and develop a more robust structure.4562

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angiosperm
Roots
…they give rise to new lateral meristems and lateral roots. In woody roots the vascular cambium (the lateral meristem that gives rise to secondary phloem and secondary xylem) originates in the pericycle as well as in the procambium; the procambium is the primary meristematic tissue between the primary phloem and…
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…they give rise to new lateral meristems and lateral roots. In woody roots the vascular cambium (the lateral meristem that gives rise to secondary phloem and secondary xylem) originates in the pericycle as well as in the procambium; the procambium is the primary meristematic tissue between the primary phloem and…
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meristem
…at root and shoot tips), lateral (in the vascular and cork cambia), and intercalary (at internodes, or stem regions between the places at which leaves attach, and leaf bases, especially of certain monocotyledons—e.g., grasses). Apical meristems give rise to the primary plant body and are responsible for the extension of…
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…at root and shoot tips), lateral (in the vascular and cork cambia), and intercalary (at internodes, or stem regions between the places at which leaves attach, and leaf bases, especially of certain monocotyledons—e.g., grasses). Apical meristems give rise to the primary plant body and are responsible for the extension of…
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tissue
Plants
Secondary, or lateral, meristems, which are found in all woody plants and in some herbaceous ones, consist of the vascular cambium and the cork cambium. They produce secondary tissues from a ring of vascular cambium in stems and roots. Secondary phloem forms along the outer edge of…
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Secondary, or lateral, meristems, which are found in all woody plants and in some herbaceous ones, consist of the vascular cambium and the cork cambium. They produce secondary tissues from a ring of vascular cambium in stems and roots. Secondary phloem forms along the outer edge of…
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