What is the Difference Between Protostele and Siphonostele?

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The key difference between protostele and siphonostele lies in their structure:

  • Protostele: It consists of a solid core of vascular tissue without a central pith or leaf gaps. Protosteles are found in primitive vascular plants. There are three basic types of protostele: haplostele, plectostele, and actinostele.
  • Siphonostele: It comprises cylindrical vascular tissue that surrounds a central pith and includes leaf gaps. Siphonosteles are found in a variety of plants, including many ferns. They can be referred to as ectophloic or amphiphloic, with amphiphloic steles seen in Asterid flowering plants.

In summary:

  • Protostele: solid core of vascular tissue, no central pith, no leaf gaps.
  • Siphonostele: cylindrical vascular tissue, central pith, leaf gaps.

Comparative Table: Protostele vs Siphonostele

The key difference between protostele and siphonostele lies in their structure. Here is a table comparing the two:

Feature Protostele Siphonostele
Definition A type of stele where the stem's vascular tissue forms a solid core, lacking leaf gaps or central pith. A type of stele where the stem's vascular tissue forms a cylinder girdling the central pith.
Central Pith No Yes
Types Haplostele, plectostele, actinostele. Solenostele, dictyostele, eustele.
Distribution Present in primitive vascular plants. Present in flowering plants and ferns.
  • Protostele is a more primitive type of stele, while siphonostele is a modification of protostele.
  • Protostele consists of a solid core of vascular tissue and does not have a central pith or leaf gaps.
  • Siphonostele, on the other hand, comprises a cylindrical vascular tissue that encloses the central pith and includes leaf gaps.