2. The central vascular cylinder of the primary axis of pteridophytes is usually referred to as
stele.
The term stele has been derived from a Greek word meaning pillar.
Besides xylem and phloem it includes pith (if present) and is delimited from the cortex by
pericycle.
The concept that stele is the fundamental unit of vascular system was put forward by Van
Tieghem and Douliot (1886).
Van Tieghem and Douliot proposed the stelar theory, according to which root and stem has
same basic structure consisting of two fundamental units –the cortex and central cylinder.
Van Tieghem and Douliot considered endodermis (the inner most layer of cortex) to be the
anatomical boundary between these two fundamental unit.
Although a distinct endodermis is present between the cortex and stele in vascular
cryptogams, higher plants usually lac the distinct endodermis and pericycle.
3. Types of stele in Pteridophytes
Schmidt (1982) recognized the two principal types of stele in pteridophytes
1. Protostele
2. Siphonostele
1. Protostele
It is non medullated stele consisting of a central core of xylum surrounded by a band of
phloem which is delimited externally by a continuous sheath of endodermis.
This is the most primitive both ontogenetically and phylogenetically .
It is simplest type of stele.
Pith is absent.
Fossil Psilophytales (e.g. Rhynia, Horneophyton) as well as many primitive living vascular
plants (e.g. Psilotum, Tmesipteris.).
The protostele gives of leaf traces without any break in the continuity of the enveloping
endodermis.
4. With the departure of leaf trace there is no marked change in the solid xylum core.
Each leaf trace is surrounded by its own endodermis.
Following four types of protostele is recognized in pteridophytes
(A)Haplostele:
This is the most primitive and simplest type of protostele.
Named by Brebner in 1902
Here the central solid smooth core of xylem remains surrounded by ring of phloem.
Haplostele is found in fossil (e.g. Rhynia, Horneophyton, Cooksonia) as well as many
living pteridophytes (Psilotum, Selaginella, Lycopodium).
(B)Actinostele:
This is the modification of the haplostele and somewhat more advanced in having the
central xylem core with radiating ribs.
Aprotostele in which xylem appears as stellate or star shaped with many radiating arms in
transverse section and phloem is present in small patches in between the radiating arms of the
xylem is known as actinostele. e.g. Living form (Psilotium, Lycopodium serratum ) and
fossil forms (e.g. Asteroxylon, Sphenophyllum).
5. (C) Plectostele:
Here the central core of xylem is divided into number of plates arranged parallel to each
other.
The xylem plate is surrounded by phloem.
Zimmermann (1930) called such stele as plectostele
e.g., aerial shoot and cone axis of Lycopodium clavatum .
(D) Mixed protostele:
Sometimes solid xylem core of the protostele is broken into small groups of tracheids
which remain embedded in phloem. Such stele is known as mixed protostele and is found in
the stems of Lycopodium cernuum .
Amixed protostele is different from a protostele with mixed pith.
Here the xylem elements (i.e., tracheids) are mixed with the parenchymatous cells of the
pith.
Latter possess group of tracheids intermixed with parenchyma cells. e.g. Osmunda regalis.
7. 2. Siphnostele
A simple protostele is sufficient to meet the requirements of a small stem or a few larger
ones under certain circumstances.
However the requirement of increasing diameter of the stem is met with by certain internal
modifications in the stele.
The first step in this direction is the appearance of definite parenchymatous pith or medulla
in the centre of the protostele.
Such a modified protostele with a central pith is known as siphnostele or medullated
stele.
Jeffrey (1910) on the basis of their association with leaf and branch traces recognized two
types of siphnostele.
In one type, however, the leaf gaps are not found and they are known as cladosiphonic
siphonosteles.
In the other type both leaf and branch gaps are present and they are known as
phyllosiphonic siphonosteles
8. Asiphonostele may be of the following types
Ectophloic: A single phloem ring external to the xylum, such a siphnostele is called
ectophloic siphnostele. e.g. Equisetum, Osmunda, Schizaea.
Amphiphloic: Contrary to this , the siphnosteles of Adiantum, Dryopteris, and Marsilea
have a ring of phloem each external and internal to the xylum. This type of stele is called
amphiphloic siphnostele. Such steles have two endodermal layers,
Outer endodermis – that lies outside the outer phloem
Inner endodermis -that lies inner to the inner phloem, outside the pith.
9. Origin of Siphnostele
There are two main theories regarding the evolution of siphonostele from protostele:
(a) Intrastelar origin or Intraxylary
(b) Extrastelar Origin
(a) Intraxylary or Intrastelar origin:
According to this theory the siphonostele is evolved by the conversion of the central mass
of the xylem into parenchymatous pith.
This theory is also known as expansion theory and it is supported by Boodle (1901), Bower
(1911), Gwynne-Vaughan (1903, 1914). Petry (1914), Thompson and Gewirtz and Fahn
(1960) etc.
(b) Extrastelar Origin:
This theory is supported by Jaffery (1897, 1899, 1902, 1917). According to him the pith is
originated as a result of invasion of the parenchymatous cells of the cortex into the stele.
It takes place through the leaf gaps and branch gaps. This theory is also known as invasion
theory.
10. Modifications of Siphnostele
Depending on the presence of nonoverlapping or overlapping gaps, the following three
types of siphnosteles are recognized.
(I) Solenostele: Asolenostele with non overlapping leaf gap is known as solenostele.
The soleno stele may be ectophloic or amphiphloic.
(i) Ectophlopic solenostele: Phloem is present only on outer side
(ii) Amphiphloic solenostele: Phloem is present on both the sides of the xylem
Figure: (A) Ectophloic solenostele (B)Amphiphloic solenostele
11. (II) Dictyostele: Many fern like Dryopteris, Pteris, Ophioglossum, etc. have a very small
rhizome with crowded leaves . Consequently, the leaf gaps overlap with each other.
Asiphnostele with overlapping leaf gap is known as dictyostele.
(III) Polycyclic stele: Stelar structure of certain pteridophytes is still more complex . They
possess two or more concentric rings of vascular tissue and are called polycyclic.
If in a polycyclic stele the outer cylinder is solenostelic, it is called polycyclic solenostele
and the outer cylinder is dictyostelic it is known as polycyclic dictyostele.
