Meristemisiä

Meristemisiä is a Finnish term that translates to "meristematic" in English. Meristematic refers to tissues in plants that are responsible for growth. These tissues are composed of actively dividing cells, known as meristematic cells. The process of cell division in these tissues is called mitosis.

Meristematic tissues are crucial for plant development. They allow plants to increase in length and girth. There are two main types of meristematic tissues: apical meristems and lateral meristems. Apical meristems are found at the tips of shoots and roots, enabling primary growth in length. Lateral meristems, such as the vascular cambium and cork cambium, are responsible for secondary growth, which increases the diameter of stems and roots.

The cells within meristematic tissues are typically small, isodiametric, and have thin cell walls and dense cytoplasm. They lack large vacuoles and intercellular spaces. As these cells divide, they differentiate into various specialized cell types that form the permanent tissues of the plant, such as xylem, phloem, epidermis, and cortex. The continuous activity of meristematic tissues ensures that plants can respond to their environment and continue to grow throughout their life cycle.