meristem
UK[ˈmɛrɪstɛm]US[ˈmɛrəˌstɛm]
n
A region of plant tissue, found chiefly at the tips of roots and shoots and in the cambium, consisting of actively dividing cells forming new tissue.
Morpheme Breakdown
merist
em
merist
divide
em
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'meristem' is a modern scientific coinage derived from the Greek root meristos, meaning 'divisible'. This root itself originates from the verb merizein ('to divide') and the noun meros ('part'), reflecting the fundamental Proto-Indo-European concept of partitioning. The suffix '-em' was appended to form a noun denoting a specific biological structure. Thus, the term's literal logic, 'that which can be divided', perfectly describes the function of this plant tissue, where cells continuously undergo division to generate new growth.
Analysis
Structure: merist (divide) + em (noun suffix)
- merist: From Greek meristos (divisible), from merizein (to divide), from meros (part). It functions as the core root conveying the concept of division.
- em: A noun-forming suffix, often used in biological and scientific terminology to denote a system or structure.
Examples
The apical meristem is responsible for the primary growth of the plant shoot.
Lateral meristems, like the vascular cambium, contribute to the increase in girth of stems and roots.
Scientists study the genetic regulation of the meristem to understand plant development.