Fig. 6.8-4a. Longitudinal section of a root apex in corn (Zea mays). This longitudinal section shows many of the same features as occur in cattail (Typha) in Fig. 6.8-2. Here too the root cap is distinct from the root, and the central cylinder meristem is producing a broad set of cells that will develop into vascular tissues. Notice how wide the entire root is, even here near the apical meristem. You may be able to identify more than 50 rows of cells, so the mature root will be at least that many cells wide. That is quite broad, and is much more typical of roots of monocots rather than dicots. Dicot root apices tend to be much smaller. A higher magnification is shown in Fig. 6.8-4b.