Cross section in Canna stem
Canna is a monocotyledon in Cannaceae family and the only genus in this family. It is a perenial herbaceous tropical plant with underground stems (rhizomes). It is frequently used as garden ornemental plant forming nice flowers in shades of different colors, red, oranges, yellow and pinks. Stems are covered with large leaves.
The sections on this page are vibratome cross sections made in fresh, unfixed stems and stained with astra blue and basic fuchsin.
The first microphotograph shows part of a cross section with vascular bundles distributed on several rings (dotted red ovals) in the medular parenchyma (par)
On the microphotograph below we have from outside: the monolayer of epidermis (blue arrow) with its cuticle stained red, two to three layers of cortical parenchyma (cp) then the .
vascular bundles in the medular parenchyma (mp). They are colateral and closed with phloem toward periphery, xylem toward center of the stem and fibres (F) on both extremities.
High magnification view of a vascular bundle. The fibres are more aboudant on the outside of the vascular bundle.
