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The shoot system of a vascular plant consists of the stem and leaves. The stem provides structural support and transports water and minerals from the roots to the leaves, and sugars produced during photosynthesis from the leaves to other parts of the plant. Leaves are the primary sites for photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy.1

At the tip of both the shoot and the root are apical meristems. These are regions of actively dividing cells responsible for the plant's primary growth, allowing it to increase in length. The shoot apical meristem produces new leaves and buds, which can develop into branches. This branching typically occurs in the leaf axil, the angle between a leaf and the stem. Plants can continue to grow throughout their lives due to the continuous activity of these meristems.23

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