Q.Bicollateral vascular bundles are present in:
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The Plumbing of a Plant
Imagine a tall tree. Water has to travel from the roots, deep in the soil, all the way up to the highest leaf. At the same time, the sugar made in those leaves has to travel down to the roots and to growing fruits. A plant can't pump blood like an animal — it needs a different system.
That system is the vascular tissue system. It is the plant's internal plumbing, a network of tubes that runs continuously through the root, stem, and leaf. It serves two jobs: conduction (moving water, minerals, and food) and mechanical support (helping the plant stand upright).
The Two Kinds of Pipes
The vascular system is made of two distinct tissues, always found together:
- Xylem — the water pipe. It carries water and dissolved minerals upward from the roots. In mature plants, its cells are dead, hollow tubes — like a series of drinking straws stacked end to end.
- Phloem — the food pipe. It carries the sugar (food) made in the leaves to every other part of the plant. Its cells are alive at maturity, though they lose their nucleus.
These two tissues are always arranged together in units called vascular bundles. Think of a bundle as a single "pipe assembly" — one xylem and one phloem, side by side.
The Precise Statement
Vascular Tissue System: The entire complex of xylem and phloem arranged in vascular bundles, forming a continuous conducting system throughout the plant body.
How Bundles Are Arranged: The Three Types
The way these bundles are placed inside the stem or root is not random. It follows a pattern that matters for identification and function.
1. Radial Bundles
Here, xylem and phloem are on separate radii — they alternate like spokes of a wheel. If you cut a root cross-section, you see xylem patches forming a star, and phloem patches sitting in the gaps between the star's arms.
Radial arrangement is characteristic of roots. The xylem star can have 2, 3, 4, or more points — called diarch, triarch, tetrarch, etc.
2. Conjoint Bundles
Here, xylem and phloem are on the same radius — they sit side by side, like two lanes of a road. This is the arrangement in stems and leaves.
Conjoint bundles come in two flavours:
- Open bundle: There is a layer of cambium (a dividing tissue) between xylem and phloem. This allows the bundle to grow thicker over time. Found in dicot stems (sunflower, mango).
- Closed bundle: No cambium. The bundle cannot grow in thickness. Found in monocot stems (maize, wheat, grass).
A common mistake: "Open" means the bundle can grow (cambium present). "Closed" means it cannot grow (cambium absent). The words refer to the potential for secondary growth, not to any physical opening.
Arrangement in the Stem: The Big Picture
In a dicot stem, the conjoint, open bundles are arranged in a ring. This leaves a central region (pith) and an outer region (cortex). The ring of bundles gives the stem mechanical strength. …
A bicollateral vascular bundle has phloem present on both the outer AND inner sides of the xylem (instead of just outside it); this arrangement is characteristic of the stems of family …
Bicollateral vascular bundles — with phloem on both sides of the xylem — are found in Cucurbitaceae stems.
In most dicot stems, the vascular bundle is 'collateral,' meaning xylem lies on the inner side and phloem strictly on the outer side of the same bundle. In a small number of plant families, an additional patch of phloem also occurs on the INNER side of the xylem (facing the pith), so the xylem is sandwiched between an outer phloem strand and an inner phloem strand — this arrangement is called bicollateral. It is a diagnostic anatomical feature of the family Cucurbitaceae (pumpkin, cucumber, bottle gourd, etc.) and is also seen in some Solanaceae and Convolvulaceae members, but among the given options it is specifically associated with Cu …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.When xylem and phloem within a vascular bundle are arranged in an alternate manner on different radii, the arrangement is called(a) radial(b) open conjoint(c) closed conjoint(d) Both (A) and (B)
›Reveal solutionSolution
When xylem and phloem alternate on separate radii within a bundle, this is the radial arrangement, typical of roots.
Vascular bundles can be classified by how xylem and phloem are arranged relative to each other. In the radial arrangement (found in roots), xylem and phloem are situated on DIFFERENT radii, alternating with each other around the centre, rather than lying together on the same radius. This contrasts with the conjoint arrangement (typical of stems), where xylem and phloem lie on the SAME radius, with phloem usually located on the outer side of the xylem; conjoint bundles are further termed 'open' (with a cambium between xylem and phloem, allowing secondary growth, as in dicot stems) or 'closed' (without cambium, as in monocot stems).
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- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.What is included in the vascular tissue system?(a) Xylem(b) Phloem(c) Both(a) and(b)(d) None of these
›Reveal solutionSolution
The vascular tissue system comprises both xylem and phloem.
A flowering plant's tissues are organised into three tissue systems: the epidermal system, the ground (fundamental) tissue system, and the vascular (conducting) tissue system. The vascular system consists of two complex tissues that always occur together, usually as vascular bundles:
- Xylem — conducts water and dissolved minerals from roots upward, and also provides mechanical support; made of tracheids, vessels, xylem fibres and xylem parenchyma. …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Which of the following is not a part of stele?(a) Xylem(b) Phloem(c) Pericycle(d) Endodermis
›Reveal solutionSolution
Xylem, phloem and pericycle all lie inside the stele; the endodermis is the layer just outside it and is not itself part of the stele.
In a dicot root, the tissues from outside inward are: epidermis (piliferous layer) → cortex → endodermis → stele. The stele (vascular cylinder) is everything enclosed by the endodermis, and it includes:
- Pericycle — the outermost layer of the stele, just inside the endodermis, from which lateral roots arise.
- Xylem — usually radial (alternating with phloem) in roots.
- Phloem — alternates with xylem patches.
- Conjunctive tissue / pith, where present. …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Bicollateral vascular bundles are present in:(a) Dracena(b) Cucurbitaceae(c) Yucca(d) Liliaceae
›Reveal solutionSolution
Bicollateral vascular bundles — with phloem on both sides of the xylem — are found in Cucurbitaceae stems.
In most dicot stems, the vascular bundle is 'collateral,' meaning xylem lies on the inner side and phloem strictly on the outer side of the same bundle. In a small number of plant families, an additional patch of phloem also occurs on the INNER side of the xylem (facing the pith), so the xylem is sandwiched between an outer phloem strand and an inner phloem strand — this arrangement is called bicollateral. It is a diagnostic anatomical feature of the family Cucurbitaceae (pumpkin, cucumber, bottle gourd, etc.) and is also seen in some Solanaceae and Convolvulaceae members, but among the given options it is specifically associated with Cu …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Assertion : Radial Vascular Bundles are found in roots of both monocots and Dicots. Reason : In Radial vascular Bundles; Xylem and Phloem are arranged separately in different radii. (Select the appropriate option below)(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.(c) Assertion is true but Reason is false.(d) Assertion is false but Reason is true.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Both statements are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
In root anatomy (of both monocots and dicots), the vascular tissue is arranged as a 'radial' vascular bundle: xylem and phloem are NOT located together on the same radius (unlike in stems, where they are 'conjoint'). Instead, xylem patches and phloem patches alternate, lying on different radii around the central axis of the root. This alternating, separate-radii arrangement is the very definition of a radial vascular bundle, so it directly explains why radial bundles occur in roots of both monocots and dicots — the Rea …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The vascular bundle in which cambium is found and which continuously forms secondary xylem and phloem is called -(a) Radial(b) Conjoint(c) Open(d) Closed
›Reveal solutionSolution
Vascular bundles with cambium present between the xylem and phloem are called 'open' vascular bundles, since the cambium allows continued (secondary) growth; those without cambium are 'closed'.
Vascular bundles are classified on the basis of the presence or absence of cambium:
- Open vascular bundle: cambium is present between the xylem and phloem. This cambium remains meristematic and continues to cut off new xylem (inward) and phloem (outward) cells throughout the life of the plant, producing secondary growth. This type is characteristic of dicot stems. …
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Identify the type of vascular bundles given in the figure(i) and(ii) and select the correct option.(a)(i) Conjoint, Collateral, Closed;(ii) Conjoint, Collateral, Open(b)(i) Conjoint, Bicollateral, Open;(ii) Conjoint, Collateral, Open(c)(i) Conjoint, Bicollateral, Open;(ii) Conjoint, Collateral, Closed(d)(i) Conjoint, Collateral;(ii) Conjoint, Open, Bicollateral, Closed
›Reveal solutionSolution
Both figures show conjoint, collateral vascular bundles (phloem and xylem on the same radius, phloem outside and xylem inside); they are distinguished as closed (no persistent cambium, as in monocots) or open (a strip of cambium present, as in dicots).
Vascular bundles are classified by three criteria:
- Conjoint vs Radial: conjoint bundles have xylem and phloem together on the same radius (as in stems); radial bundles have them on alternating radii (as in roots). Both figures here are conjoint.
- Collateral vs Bicollateral: collateral bundles have a single phloem strip only on the outer side of the xylem; bicollateral bundles (found in families like Cucurbitaceae and Solanaceae) additionally have an inner phloem strip on the inner side of the xylem. Since both figures show only ONE outer phloem region and no inner phloem, they are collateral, not bicollateral — this rules out options (b) and (c).
- Open vs Closed: if a cambium strip is present between the phloem and xylem (capable of further division/secondary growth), the bundle is open — typical of dicot stems. If no cambium is present between them (only conjunctive tissue, no further growth possible), the bundle is closed — typical of monocot stems. …
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Bicollateral vascular bundles are present in:(a) Dracaena(b) Cucurbitaceae(c) Yucca(d) Liliaceae
›Reveal solutionSolution
Bicollateral vascular bundles — with phloem on both sides of the xylem — are a distinguishing anatomical feature of the stem in Cucurbitaceae.
Most dicot stems have conjoint, collateral vascular bundles, where phloem lies only on the outer side of the xylem, with the two tissues arranged along the same radius. In a smaller number of families, the vascular bundles are bicollateral — phloem is present on both the outer and the inner sides of the xylem, i.e., internal (perimedullary) phloem in addition to the usual external phloem.
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- CBSE 2023Set ANN1 markQ.Name the type of vascular bundle in the figure :
›Reveal solutionSolution
Xylem and phloem occurring as separate, alternating patches arranged in a ring (not bundled together) is the defining feature of a radial vascular bundle, the type found in roots.
Vascular bundles are classified by the relative arrangement of xylem and phloem:
- Conjoint bundles — xylem and phloem lie together on the same radius (found in stems and leaves).
- Radial bundles — xylem and phloem lie on separate radii, alternating with each other around the centre, so that xylem patches point toward the centre and phloem patches lie between them. This arrangement is characteristic of roots. …
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The bicollateral vascular bundle is characteristic of members of ____ family.(a) Solanaceae(b) Cucurbitaceae(c) Poaceae(d) Leguminosae
›Reveal solutionSolution
A bicollateral vascular bundle, where phloem occurs on both the outer and inner faces of the xylem, is a distinguishing anatomical feature of members of the family Cucurbitaceae (e.g., pumpkin, cucumber).
Typically, in a conjoint collateral vascular bundle, phloem lies only on the outer side of the xylem. However, in members of the family Cucurbitaceae (e.g., Cucurbita/pumpkin), the vascular bundles are bicollateral — here phloem is present on both the outer and the inner side of the xylem, with the xylem sandwiched in between. Th …
- CBSE 2020Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Fill in the blank: In root, __________ type of vascular bundles are found. (choose: Radial / conjoint)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Root vascular bundles are radial (xylem and phloem on different radii), unlike the conjoint bundles of the stem.
In a dicot root's primary structure, xylem occurs as separate radial patches (often star-shaped/exarch, with protoxylem pointing outward) alternating with equal-numbered patches of phloem — this is called a radial vascular bundle. In contrast, ste …
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