Tables and diagrams
Cactus stem tissues
Stem cross-section
The plate shows the organisation of a fleshy stem. Green around the perimeter marks the photosynthetic region, and the pale tissue deeper inside marks the water storage region. The vascular system surrounds the pith. [Mauseth 2006]
This is a structural model. Tissue proportions, continuity of the hypodermal layer and distribution of additional bundles in the cortex vary among cacti.
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