meristem

mer·i·stem  (mr-stm)

n.

The undifferentiated plant tissue from which new cells are formed, as that at the tip of a stem or root.

---

[Greek meristos, divided (from merizein, to divide, from meris, division; see (s)mer-² in Indo-European roots) + -em (as in xylem, and phloem).]

---

meri·ste·matic (-st-mtk) adj.

meri·ste·mati·cal·ly adv.

---

meristem  (mr-stm)

Plant tissue whose cells actively divide to form new tissues that cause the plant to grow. The originally undifferentiated cells of the meristem can produce specialized cells to form the tissues of roots, leaves, and other plant parts. The meristem includes the growing tips of roots and stems (the apical meristems) and the tissue layer known as cambium.

---

meristematic adjective (mr-st-mtk)

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

meristem - undifferentiated tissue from which new cells are formed, as at the tip of a stem or root plant tissue - the tissue of a plant