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Article: Shoots
- Article from:
- Biology
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CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Shoots
The shoot is the production center for a plant. It is the organ system that gives rise to stems, leaves, and flowers. Therefore, the shoot system is functionally responsible for food production (photosynthesis) and reproduction. Shoots can be classified as vegetative or floral. Vegetative shoots are described in this article.
Anatomy
Vegetative shoots consist of stems and leaves. The stem is the major structural support for the plant, but also contains vascular tissues that transport water,
minerals
, and food throughout the plant. Examining the organization of plant tissues within a stem highlights these functional characteristics. The outer regions of the stem are covered ...