Although these systems characterise the higher types of plants, the elementary tissues (represented in [Plate XIII]. and in other figures) enter alike into the several component parts of nearly all plants. The stem, the branch, and the root, are alike constituted of an outer coating which affords a mechanical support, and once formed takes no further share in the economy of the plant, excepting that of assisting to convey fluid from the roots to the branches and leaves, an action more of a capillary nature than vital. The nourishment of the plant is brought about by other material structures, as the pith, the cortex, the cambium, and so forth, all of which greatly assist in the formative process. The woody portion of the plants is especially concerned in furnishing support to the softer pulpy textures, while the tissues of leaves and flowers are chiefly composed of cells compactly held together by protoplasmic or albuminoid matter. Water, of course, enters largely into the constituents of all plants. Beneath the epidermis is another layer of importance, the parenchymatous, which becomes more or less solid with the growth of the pith and cellular wall. In the pulpy substance of some leaves the epidermis presents a thin lamina of palisade-tissue, the bulk of the mesophyll consisting of spongy parenchyma or sclerenchymatous fibres (seen in [Fig. 310]), which also serve to show the disposition of the several layers about to be brought under notice.
Development of the Tissue Systems.—In the growing plant the embryonic cells soon become differentiated into three primary meristem layers, known as dermatogen, periblem, and phloem, from which are developed respectively the primary cortex, epidermis, and the stele or vascular cylinder. The dermatogen forms the outermost layer of cells at the growing point, and when present always develops into true epidermal tissue. In stems the dermatogen is always single-layered, while in roots it consists of several layers and develops a many-layered epidermis.
Fig. 310.—Section of Leaf of Piper.
c. Cortex; ep. Epidermis; pal. Palisade-tissue; scl f. Sclerenchymatous fibres of pericycle; o. Oil gland.
The periblem occurs immediately beneath the dermatogen, forming a hollow cylinder of tissue, which surrounds the phloem. From the periblem is developed the fundamental tissue of the primary cortex. When no dermatogen is present in the growing-point (stems of vascular cryptogams) the external layer of the periblem develops cells which perform epidermal functions. The phloem occupies the centre of the growing-point, and consists of a solid mass of somewhat elongated cells. From the phloem are developed the fibro-vascular and fundamental tissues of the vascular-cylinder or stele.
PLATE XIII.
ELEMENTARY PLANT TISSUES.
Epidermal or Boundary Tissue System.—This system constitutes the external covering of the plant, and is commonly called the epidermis. It includes, besides the ordinary epidermal cells, the guard-cells of the stomata and water pores, the plant hairs or trichomes, and the epidermal or external glands. The epidermal tissues are chiefly protective in function, serving to prevent excessive evaporation from the interior tissues of the plant.