Consider the following plant tissues. Identify the lateral meristems among the above. Statements: (A) Axillary buds (B) Fascicular vascular cambium (C) Interfascicular cambium (D) Cork cambium (E) Intercalary meristem Choose the correct answer:

Solution & Explanation

Answer: (D) (B), (C) and (D) only. Solution: Lateral meristems occur along the sides (lateral position) of roots and stems and are responsible for secondary growth (increase in girth). These are the fascicular (intrafascicular) vascular cambium, the interfascicular cambium and the cork cambium (phellogen). Axillary buds arise from the shoot apical meristem region (not lateral), and intercalary meristems are part of the primary (apical-derived) meristems located at the base of internodes/leaves. NCERT Reference: NCERT (Class XI, Anatomy of Flowering Plants – The Tissues / Meristematic Tissues subsection, pre-2023 rationalisation text): plant meristems are classified as apical, intercalary and lateral; lateral meristems (vascular cambium – fascicular and interfascicular – and cork cambium) are responsible for the increase in girth of the plant during secondary growth.