Grafting Coleus Plants

 

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2000, Volume 21

Abstract

This is an exercise I use with my non-science major botany students. Prior to doing this exercise we discuss the structure and function of the conducting tissues in plants. We compare the arrangement of the primary xylem and phloem in monocots and dicots, and talk about the changes that occur during secondary growth in dicots. Then I show the Coleus plants to the students and have them guess whether they are monocots or dicots based on morphological features. (I use Coleus, a member of the Mint plant family or Lamiaceae, as their stems are square, making it easier for students to orient their cuts. Any other member of the Mint family should work just as well.) Finally, I introduce the idea of grafting plants. I have students come up with reasons why grafting might be the desired, or even necessary, method of propagation. If time permits, it's fun to have students try to determine how best to cut and join plants together.

Keywords:  plant anatomy, xylem, phloem, graft

University of Nebraska, Lincoln (1999)