Final answer:
The stem of a dicotyledonous plant features three main tissue systems arranged concentrically: the dermal tissue on the outside, vascular bundles of xylem and phloem in a ring, and ground tissue making up the cortex and pith. Vascular bundles are surrounded by a bundle sheath and are responsible for the transport of water, nutrients, and sugars within the plant.
Step-by-step explanation:
Arrangement of Tissues in the Stem of a Dicotyledonous Plant
The stem, as a major organ in vascular plants, plays a critical role in support and conduction of water, nutrients, and sugars. In dicotyledonous plants, the stem's internal structure comprises three main tissue systems: dermal, vascular, and ground tissue. Dermal tissue forms the protective outer layer; vascular tissue, comprising xylem and phloem, is responsible for the transport of water, minerals, and sugars; and ground tissue fills the spaces between, functioning in photosynthesis, storage, and support.
When drawing a diagram of these tissues in the arrangement present in a dicot stem, it would show the epidermis lining the outside of the stem, followed by the cortex, which is made up of ground tissue. The vascular bundles containing phloem (towards the outside of the stem) and xylem (towards the inside) would be arranged in a ring within the ground tissue, following which is the pith, also made of ground tissue, located at the center of the stem. Growth of the stem occurs at the meristems, found at the tips of the stems and branches, which consist of meristematic tissue responsible for ongoing cell division.
In the dicotyledonous stem, the vascular bundles are organized in a characteristic ring, with the phloem on the outside and the xylem on the inside. Each vascular bundle is separated by ground tissue and is often surrounded by a bundle sheath. This organization enables efficient transport of resources through the plant's body.