Final answer:
Vascular bundles are comprised of xylem and phloem, which are essential for transporting water, minerals, and photosynthetic products throughout the plant. Xylem is located towards the interior and phloem towards the exterior of each vascular bundle in both dicot and monocot stems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Vascular bundles are composed of xylem and phloem. In both dicot and monocot stems, they form a critical part of the plant's transport system. The xylem is responsible for the movement of water and minerals from the roots to the leaves, and the phloem is involved in the transport of photosynthetic products from the leaf to other parts of the plant. Essentially, xylem and phloem tissues are indispensable for the transportation of essential nutrients and energy throughout the plant.
In dicot stems, vascular bundles are typically arranged in a ring when viewed in cross section, which can contribute to the formation of growth rings in perennial plants. By contrast, in monocot stems, these bundles are scattered throughout the ground tissue. Regardless of their arrangement, each vascular bundle contains both xylem towards the interior and phloem towards the exterior, necessary for the plant's growth and survival.