Britannica AI Icon

stele

plant anatomy
Also known as: vascular cylinder

Quick Summary

In plant anatomy, a stele refers to the central vascular cylinder of a plant's axis, containing its xylem and phloem tissues. These tissues are crucial for transporting water, minerals, and food throughout the plant.12

A common type of stele found in dicotyledonous plants is the eustele. This structure features distinct vascular bundles of xylem and phloem, separated by parenchymal cells. Ferns, gymnosperms, and flowering plants are all vascular plants that possess steles, enabling them to have true stems, leaves, and roots. The arrangement and pattern of these vascular tissues within the stele can vary among different plant species.345

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.