Stem submerged dicot: Nymphaea

cross section: Nymphaea stem magnification: 100x The bulk of the stem consists of open airy aerenchyma with numerous large air chambers that aide in respiration and buoyancy The vascular bundles are surrounded by a starch containing endodermis in which the red staining casparian strip may occasionally be seen. A pericycle can be seen beneath the endodermis. Like my hydrophytes, xylem tissues are reduced while phloem tissue are well developed and, in lager bundles may form in two distinct patches.