medium difficulty4 min

Plant Tissues — Meristematic

Meristematic tissue is plant tissue made of actively dividing cells that help the plant grow.

In one line: Tip means length; side means thickness; node means regrowth.

Understand it

Meristematic cells are found in growing regions. Apical meristem increases length, lateral meristem increases girth, and intercalary meristem helps regrowth near nodes or leaf bases, especially in grasses.

Example

The root tip has apical meristem, which helps roots grow deeper into the soil.

Rule to remember

Growth rule: apical meristem increases length, lateral meristem increases girth, and intercalary meristem supports growth at nodes or leaf bases.

See it worked out

Follow the example line by line, then use the same method on new questions.

Worked example

If grass grows again after cutting, intercalary meristem near the base of leaves helps produce new cells for regrowth.

Method you can reuse

Read the location first, identify the growth type, then name the meristem and state its function in one sentence.

Sketch it in your answer

Draw a shoot and root tip, label apical meristem at tips, lateral meristem along sides of stem, and intercalary meristem near nodes.

Check yourself

Answer the question in your head before opening the answer.

Try it yourself

How does apical meristem help a plant?

Think first, then show answer

Apical meristem helps a plant grow in length because its actively dividing cells are present at the tips of roots and shoots.

Common wrong answer

Writing 'apical meristem increases thickness'.

Why it loses marks: Apical meristem is mainly for lengthwise growth at tips.

Don't mix this up

Students often write that all meristems increase only height, but lateral meristem increases thickness.

Exam tip

Always mention location with function: apical at tips, lateral at sides, intercalary near nodes or leaf base.

Write it in the exam

Each point is worth about one mark. Write point 1 for a 1-mark question and keep adding points as the marks go up.

How CBSE asks it

Questions often ask to identify the type of meristem from its location or to match apical, lateral, and intercalary with their functions.

1
Enough for 1 mark
Meristematic tissue is plant tissue made of actively dividing cells that help the plant grow.
2
Add for 2 marks
Example: The root tip has apical meristem, which helps roots grow deeper into the soil.
3
Add for 3 marks
Meristematic cells are found in growing regions.

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