What is meristem?

• A. A tissue that stores nutrients.
• B. A tissue that protects leaves.
• C. Undifferentiated plant tissue from which new cells are formed to enable growth.
• D. A tissue responsible for photosynthesis.

Answer: (C)

Meristematic tissue consists of undifferentiated plant cells that continually divide to form new cells, enabling growth. This region of active cell division is responsible for producing cells that later differentiate into the various tissues of the plant, supporting growth in length and girth. Because these cells are not yet specialized, they provide the essential source of new cells for development. The other descriptions refer to tissues with specific roles—storing nutrients, protecting surfaces, or carrying out photosynthesis—whereas meristem is defined by its undifferentiated, proliferative nature and its role in generating new cells for growth.