EXPERIMENT NO.

17
2 L1 is a slide of a stained transverse section through a plant stem.

(a) (i) Draw a large plan diagram of the region of the stem on L1 indicated by the shaded area
in Fig. 2.1. Your drawing should include at least one vascular bundle. Use a sharp pencil.

Use one ruled label line and label to identify the epidermis.

draw this
region

Fig. 2.1

E
g
=

800
epidermis
②

⑦
② ⑪

①
①
① ⑪

[5]
(ii) Observe the vascular tissue on the section of the stem on L1.

Select one large xylem vessel element and a group of three adjacent, smaller xylem
vessel elements.

• Make a large drawing of this group of four xylem vessel elements.

• Use one ruled label line and label to identify the cell wall.
wall
cell

⑮
[5]
 (b) Fig. 2.2 is a photomicrograph of a stained transverse section through a different stem from
L1.

Fig. 2.2

Identify three observable differences, other than colour, between the stem section in Fig. 2.2
and the stem section on L1.

Record these three observable differences in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1

feature Fig. 2.2 L1

Vascular bundle
arranged scattered

Hollow space
present absent

Pith absent present

central region
X

92mm 55mm

Fig. 2.3

(i) Along the line X–Y, measure the diameter of the whole stem section and the diameter of
the central region.
Use appropriate units.

92 mm
diameter of whole stem section ...............................................................

55mm
diameter of central region ...............................................................
[2]
(ii) Calculate the area of the whole stem section and the area of the central region using
your answers in (c)(i) and the equation:

area = rr 2 Central
A
region
Show your working. Whole Stem V =5
= 27 . 5 mm

"
F
=

2 g
v
= :
46mm
I
area :
22 = 3 14
.
(27 53 .

2
I
area : ↑22 = 3 .

14(46) I

6644mm2
area of whole stem section ...............................................................

2375mm
area of central region ...............................................................
[2]

(iii) State the ratio of the area of the whole stem section to the area of the central region.
While Stem central
region
:

6644 : 2375
1 a 1 : 0 357
ratio ......................................................... [1]
" .

[Total: 19]