Aqustio Stem Cross Section

Neither monocots nor eudicots, water lilies belong to completely separate classification of plants called basal angiosperms. The basal angiosperms are comprised of a few separate evolutionary groups that branched off from other flowering plants before the appearance of the eudicots. So, they have a mix of both monocot and eudicot characteristics.

The holes are the air canals in the tissue. They are known as aerenchyma and make the water lily buoyant and improve respiration and photosynthesis.

 

Objective: 4x (previous 3 photos)

The vascular bundles are arranged in rough ring but are poorly differentiated into xylem and phloem.

 The aerenchyma (air canals) are lined by sclereids, a type of sclerenchyma cells which are irregular or star shaped. The sclereids function as support for the aerenchyma.

Water lilies have thick epidermises, as can be seen above. 

Objective: 10x (previous 5 photos)

Objective: 40x (previous 2 photos)