(Solved): Observation: Anatomy of Woody Stem 1. Examine a prepared slide of a cross section of a woody stem ( ...

Observation: Anatomy of Woody Stem 1. Examine a prepared slide of a cross section of a woody stem (Fig. 16.14), and identify the bark (the dark outer area), which contains cork, a protective outer layer, cortes, which stores nutrients; and phloem, which transports organic nutrients Figure 16.14 Woody eudicot stem cross section. Because xylem builds up year after year, it is possible to count the annual rings to determine the age of a tree. This tree is three years old. cork cork cambrum conex Bark phie) Vascular Cambium rays secondary vyem -summer- wood -annual- -spring- ing Wood wood primary xylem Pith a. Drawing b. Photomicrograph 2. Locate the vascular cambium at the inner edge of the bark, between the bark and the wood. Vascular cambium is meristem tissue whose activity accounts for secondary growth, which causes increased girth of a tree. Secondary phloem (which disappears) and secondary xylem (which builds up) are produced by vascular cambium each growing season. 3. Find the wood, which contains annual rings. An annual ring is the amount of xylem added to the plant during one growing season. Rings appear to be present because spring wood has large xylem vessels and looks light in color, while summer wood has much smaller vessels and appears much darker. How old is Are all the rings the same width?. the stem you are observing?. 4. Identify the pith, a ground tissue at the center of a woody stem that stores organic nutrients and may disappear. 5. Locate rays, groups of small, almost cuboid cells that extend out from the pith laterally. 16.5 Leaves Pre-Lab 8. Why are leaves typically the topmost and outermost structures on a plant? Laboratory 16 Organization of Flowering Plants 207 16-15