Biology Forum › Botany Discussion › I need serious help about dandelion stem
- AuthorPosts
- February 6, 2005 at 5:37 am #356
novastar_
Participantwhy does the stem curve immediately after cutting?
- February 6, 2005 at 6:03 am #19392
novastar_
ParticipantPlease, can some kind, smart souls help me? my homework’s due tomorrow….. 😥
- February 7, 2005 at 1:00 am #19396
mith
ParticipantIs it because there’s a lack of pressure in the stem and that causes the stem to lose rigidity?
- February 7, 2005 at 2:37 am #19399
ERS
Participantturgor pressure, to be more specific.
ERS - February 7, 2005 at 11:30 am #19400
novastar_
ParticipantWhy is there a lack of tugor pressure?
- February 7, 2005 at 8:52 pm #19416
mith
ParticipantImagine a balloon( the long ones). It’s pretty rigid right? Now pop the balloon or cut it in half. The rubber isn’t rigid anymore right?
- February 8, 2005 at 9:08 am #19422
novastar_
ParticipantI see, but y is it curved unevenly? the outer layer becomes shorter than the inner layer…… is it because the outer layer tends to lose water to its surroundings easily?
- February 8, 2005 at 8:26 pm #19436
mith
ParticipantWhat do you mean curve unevenly? Is there an even curving? I’m thinking if a plant stem goes limp, it just kinda curves depending on how the flower is balanced.
- February 13, 2005 at 2:34 pm #19557
novastar_
Participantis it because of a lack of turgor pressure in the cortex cells?
- February 13, 2005 at 2:41 pm #19559
RobJim
ParticipantI see, but y is it curved unevenly? the outer layer becomes shorter than the inner layer…… is it because the outer layer tends to lose water to its surroundings easily?
It kind of sounds like you’re saying the end of the cut stem expands wider, like a trumpet, or bell bottom pants; in other words, the walls curve outward, but the stem as a whole doesn’t curve. If that’s the case then the answer is probably that the inside of the stem is under high pressure, and when the inside is exposed to atmospheric pressure the inside part of the stem expands. This would cause the walls of the stem to curve outwards in the same way that a bimetallic strip bends when the temperature is changed.
I don’t really know, but this would explain it if that’s what you meant.
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