ClipArt ETC

The Stems and Roots ClipArt gallery provides 112 illustrations of the various types of stem and root structures in plants.

A spindle root.

Spindle Root

A spindle root.

A taproot.

Taproot

A taproot.

"When the root sinks perpendicularly into the earth, and tapers regularly from the base to the apex with very few fibrous radicles. This variety contains some of the most important garden vegetables, and it is seldom found of natural growth, being almost uniformly produced by cultivation."—Darby, 1855

Tap Root

"When the root sinks perpendicularly into the earth, and tapers regularly from the base to the apex…

This shows a typical tap root, (Keeler, 1915).

Tap Root

This shows a typical tap root, (Keeler, 1915).

A type of plant root.

Tap Root

A type of plant root.

A tuberous root.

Tuberous Root

A tuberous root.

A type of plant root.

Tuberous Root

A type of plant root.

"Diagram to illustrate a root-hair (h) in the soil, and its relation to the soil-particles, the capillary film of water (w), and the air spaces (a); e, epidermal cell of the root, of which the root-hair is an out-growth, or branch." -Gager, 1916

Roots in Soil

"Diagram to illustrate a root-hair (h) in the soil, and its relation to the soil-particles, the capillary…

"Didymous roots are those which produce a tubercle each year, and when the tubercle of one year arrives at nearly the dimensions of the one of the preceding year, they answer to the form indicated by the term applied to them; that is, double or twin roots."—Darby, 1855

Didymous Roots

"Didymous roots are those which produce a tubercle each year, and when the tubercle of one year arrives…

Fascicled roots.

Fascicled Roots

Fascicled roots.

Fibrous roots.

Fibrous Roots

Fibrous roots.

Rose thorns.

Rose

Rose thorns.

"Diagram showing the progressive development of the skeletal tissues from the apex toward the base of the stem." -Stevens, 1916

Plant Skeletal Tissues

"Diagram showing the progressive development of the skeletal tissues from the apex toward the base of…

<i>Sium sisarum</i>. "A species of water parsnip, generally said to be of Chinese origin, long cultivated in Europe for its esculent root. It is a plant a foot high with pinnate leaves, a hardy perennial, but grown as an annual. The root is composed of small fleshy tubers, of the size of the little finger, united at the crown." &mdash;Whitney, 1889

Skirret

Sium sisarum. "A species of water parsnip, generally said to be of Chinese origin, long cultivated in…

"<i>Polygala senega</i> of eastern North America. It sends up several stems from hard knotty root-stocks, bearing single close racemes of white flowers. It is the source of the officinal senegaroot, and from being much gathered is said to have become scarce in the east." &mdash;Whitney, 1889 <p>This illustration shows the knotty roots and the lower portion of the stem.

Seneca Snakeroot - Roots and Base of the Stem

"Polygala senega of eastern North America. It sends up several stems from hard knotty root-stocks, bearing…

Piece of a stem of Soft Maple, of a year old, cut crosswise and lengthwise.

Piece of Stem from a Soft Maple

Piece of a stem of Soft Maple, of a year old, cut crosswise and lengthwise.

Stem of a potato plant.

Stem

Stem of a potato plant.

"Diagram showing some types of unusual growth in thickness. A, cross section through a four-year-old stem of Anisostichus capreolata." -Stevens, 1916

A. Capreolata Unusual Stem Growth

"Diagram showing some types of unusual growth in thickness. A, cross section through a four-year-old…

"Diagram showing some types of unusual growth in thickness...B, cross section of stem of species of Bauhinia; the xylem strands, b, are stippled while the surrounding parenchyma and bark tissues are left white." -Stevens, 1916

Bauhinia Unusual Stem Growth

"Diagram showing some types of unusual growth in thickness...B, cross section of stem of species of…

"Diagram showing some types of unusual growth in thickness...C, portion of a cross section of stem of Gnetum scandens; 1, 2, and 3 are successive rings of growth; m, is the pith; b, is a sclerenchyma ring. The xylem portions with the exception of the larger tracheal tubes are shaded, while the medullary rays, phloem and tissues intervening between the rings of growth and the outer cortes tissues are left white." -Stevens, 1916

G. Scandens Unusual Stem Growth

"Diagram showing some types of unusual growth in thickness...C, portion of a cross section of stem of…

Short piece of stem of Flax, magnified, showing the bark, wood, and pith in a cross section.

Stem of Flax

Short piece of stem of Flax, magnified, showing the bark, wood, and pith in a cross section.

"Adianium pedatum: transverse section of stem, showing the amphiphloic siphonostele." -Stevens, 1916

A. Pedaium Stem

"Adianium pedatum: transverse section of stem, showing the amphiphloic siphonostele." -Stevens, 1916

An articulated or jointed stem.

Articulated Stem

An articulated or jointed stem.

"Diagram showing the course of the vascular bundles in a stem of Clematis viticella. Median bundles from the leaves are marked A, lateral bundles B and C." -Stevens, 1916

C. Viticella Stem

"Diagram showing the course of the vascular bundles in a stem of Clematis viticella. Median bundles…

"B, diagram of vascular bundles in external view and in cross section of the stem of Cerastium. The leaves are shown cut off at 1, 2, 2' and 3." -Stevens, 1916

Cerastium Stem

"B, diagram of vascular bundles in external view and in cross section of the stem of Cerastium. The…

A climbing stem.

Climbing Stem

A climbing stem.

A creeping stem.

Creeping Stem

A creeping stem.

Cross section of stem of Myriophyllum, with air canals.

Cross-section Stem

Cross section of stem of Myriophyllum, with air canals.

Cross-section of stem of Ricinus communis, showing ring of secondary xylem.

Cross-section Stem

Cross-section of stem of Ricinus communis, showing ring of secondary xylem.

"Gleichenia pubescens: transverse section of stem, showing the protostele." -Stevens, 1916

G. Pubescens Stem

"Gleichenia pubescens: transverse section of stem, showing the protostele." -Stevens, 1916

"Schizogenous resin duct in the young stem of ivy (Hedera helix), as seen in cross section. A, early, and B, later stage in the formation of the duct. g, the mature duct; c, cambium wb, phloem; b, bast fibers." -Stevens, 1916

Ivy Stem

"Schizogenous resin duct in the young stem of ivy (Hedera helix), as seen in cross section. A, early,…

"A, cross section of stem of Juncus...the black lines traversing the section are really chains of cells and thin-walled cells with relatively large intercellular spaces between them fill up i." -Stevens, 1916

Juncus Stem

"A, cross section of stem of Juncus...the black lines traversing the section are really chains of cells…

"B, stem of Nymphaea, showing large intercellular spaces at i." -Stevens, 1916

Nymphaea Stem

"B, stem of Nymphaea, showing large intercellular spaces at i." -Stevens, 1916

"Pteris aquilina: transverse section of stem, showing the polystele." -Stevens, 1916

P. Aquilina Stem

"Pteris aquilina: transverse section of stem, showing the polystele." -Stevens, 1916

"Cross section of a portion of palm stem. e, xylem; f, phloem portions of vascular bundle; g, sclerenchyma tissue about vascular bundle; d, fundamental or ground tissue; c, larger tracheal tubes in vascular bundle." -Stevens, 1916

Palm Stem

"Cross section of a portion of palm stem. e, xylem; f, phloem portions of vascular bundle; g, sclerenchyma…

"A, diagram of course of vascular bundles in a palm stem; 1m, 2m, 3m, bundles from the median portions of the leaves." -Stevens, 1916

Palm Stem

"A, diagram of course of vascular bundles in a palm stem; 1m, 2m, 3m, bundles from the median portions…

A square stem.

Square Stem

A square stem.

A triangular stem.

Triangular Stem

A triangular stem.

A twining stem, or vine.

Twining Stem

A twining stem, or vine.

The central part of the stem is the pith, then is the cellular tissue and finally the bark.

Woody Stem

The central part of the stem is the pith, then is the cellular tissue and finally the bark.

The central part of the stem is the pith, then is the cellular tissue and finally the bark.

Woody Stem

The central part of the stem is the pith, then is the cellular tissue and finally the bark.

Sweet pea tendrils.

Sweet Pea

Sweet pea tendrils.

A form of a taproot.

Taproot

A form of a taproot.

A form of a taproot.

Taproot

A form of a taproot.

A form of a taproot.

Taproot

A form of a taproot.

"A plant of the genus <i>Sonchus</i>, primarily <i>S. oleraceus</i>, a weed of waste places, probably native in Europe and central Asia, but now diffused nearly all over the world. It is a smooth herb with a milky juice, bearing runcinate-pinnatifid leaves and rather small yellow flower heads... 1. upper part of the stem with the heads; 2. one of the basal leaves; a, a flower; b, the achene with the pappus." &mdash;Whitney, 1889

Sow Thistle - Stem with Heads, Basal Leaves, Flower, Achene with Pappus

"A plant of the genus Sonchus, primarily S. oleraceus, a weed of waste places, probably native in Europe…

A thorn of a plant.

Thorn

A thorn of a plant.

"Diagram showing the evolution of tissues from the primordial meristem down to the beginning of cambial activity." -Stevens, 1916

Plant Tissues

"Diagram showing the evolution of tissues from the primordial meristem down to the beginning of cambial…

"Diagram showing how the vascular bundles anastomose around the medullary rays. The gaps represent the rays." -Stevens, 1916

Vascular Bundles

"Diagram showing how the vascular bundles anastomose around the medullary rays. The gaps represent the…

"Diagram indicating by arrows how the water in the tracheids of pine passes longitudinally from one tracheid to another." -Stevens, 1916

Water Flow in Pine

"Diagram indicating by arrows how the water in the tracheids of pine passes longitudinally from one…

"Diagram showing the relation of the water-carrying tissues of the leaves to those of the stem, and how the older rings of growth give up their water to the newer before this water can enter the leaves. The figures at the bottom indicate in years the age of the rings." -Stevens, 1916

Water Flow in Plants

"Diagram showing the relation of the water-carrying tissues of the leaves to those of the stem, and…

"Roots of the water-hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes Solms), showing removable root-caps; b, root-cap removed from c." -Gager, 1916

Water Hyacinth Roots

"Roots of the water-hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes Solms), showing removable root-caps; b, root-cap removed…