Tallo

Tallo is the term used in botany to describe the stem or main axis of a plant that connects the roots with the shoots, leaves, flowers, and fruits. It provides support and serves as the conduit for the transport of water, minerals, and organic nutrients between roots and photosynthetic tissues, a function carried by the plant’s vascular system, including xylem and phloem. Stems also host buds and nodes from which leaves, flowers, or new shoots can arise.

Anatomically, a tallo is composed of tissues such as the epidermis, cortex, and a central vascular cylinder in many flowering plants. In monocots, vascular bundles are typically scattered, while in dicots they are often arranged in a ring. Growth occurs through apical meristems at the tips (primary growth), which lengthen the stem. In many woody species, secondary growth via a cambium thickens the tallo, producing rings of growth and increasing girth.

Stems vary widely in form and function. Herbaceous stems are soft and often short-lived, whereas woody stems become rigid and durable. Specialized stem forms include rhizomes (underground horizontal stems that store nutrients and can produce new shoots), stolons or runners (above-ground horizontal stems that enable spreading), and tubers (fleshy storage stems). Some stems also bear specialized tissues for storage or protection and may participate in photosynthesis to a limited extent.

Overall, the tallo plays a central role in plant architecture, resource transport, and vegetative propagation, while its diversity underpins a wide range of plant life strategies.