Plant Anatomy and Morphology: Structure, Function and Development

Book excerpt: Plant anatomy is the study of the internal structure of plants. It often involves sectioning of tissues and microscopy, to study plants at the cellular level. Plant anatomy is divided into structural categories such as root anatomy, stem anatomy, wood anatomy, leaf anatomy, fruit/seed anatomy and flower anatomy. The study of the external structure and physical form of plants is known as plant morphology. It is useful in the visual identification of plants. Plant morphology studies the reproductive and vegetative structures of plants. It examines the pattern of development along with the process by which structures originate and mature when a plant grows. This book includes some of the vital pieces of work being conducted across the world, on various topics related to plant anatomy and morphology. It strives to provide a fair idea about these disciplines and to help develop a better understanding of the latest advances within these fields. The extensive content of this book provides the readers with a thorough understanding of the subject.