Question

Greek word meristos used in term meristem means
A. Divided
B. Young
C. Tissue
D. Tip

Answer 1

The meristem is a tissue found in the plants and consists of undifferentiated cells which are capable of cell division. Cells of meristem tissue can develop into any other tissue and organ that occur in plants. They can be the origin of any tissue or organ in the plants.

Complete answer:
Meristem stems are the undifferentiated tissue that have an ability to develop into any tissue or organ in the plant body. These cells are totipotent and are capable of continued division to transform into new tissue types or organs. These meristem cells are small with no or small vacuoles and protoplasm fills the cell completely as division of meristem cells provides new cells for differentiation and expansion. The plastids are the undifferentiated cells but are present in the rudimentary form. These cells are packed tightly without any intercellular spaces or voids and the cell wall is very thin.
The term meristem was first used by Carl Wilhelm von Nageli in 1858 in his book “Contributions to Scientific Botany.” The word meristem is taken from Greek word meristos which means to be divisible and inherent functions as it performs the same functions.

Hence, the correct option is A. Divided.

Note: There are three types of meristem tissues in the plants which are apical, intercalary, and lateral meristems. Meristems are basically slow growing which is called the central zone. The growth and proliferation rates at meristem summits usually differ from those at the periphery.