How Do the Meristems of Leaves Compare to Those of Stems

Question

How do the meristems of leaves compare to those of stems?
A)Leaves do not have discrete populations of meristem cells.
B)Meristem cells in leaves do not form persistent populations that have the potential to produce new cells for the lifetime of the plant.
C)Meristem cells in leaves are only ever located at the leaf margin.
D)Meristems in leaves do not produce auxin.

Accepted Answer

The meristems of leaves are similar to those of stems in that they contain populations of undifferentiated cells that are capable of continuous growth and differentiation. However, unlike stem meristems, the meristem cells in leaves do not form persistent populations that can produce new cells for the lifetime of the plant. Instead, leaf meristems are only active during periods of leaf growth and expansion, and these cells are eventually differentiated into specific leaf cell types.