A * meristem positioned (i.e. intercalated) between more or less differentiated tissues, some distance from the * apical meristem. Intercalary meristems may contain not only * initials , but also relatively mature cells. This prevents it from being a structurally weak part of the organ. The primary function of an intercalary meristem is to facilitate longitudinal growth of a plant organ, independent of activity of the apical meristem. Examples are the meristems in the leaf sheaths and internodes of grasses and horsetails. |
