The Shoot Apical Meristem has a prominent Quiescent Center which has been called the Central Mother Cell Zone. The Root Apical Meristem tends to be broad and all of the tissues of the Root Body and Root Cap are produced by the same Meristem Proper. Bud Scales enclose Shoot Apices and protect them from environmental trauma. Root Branching is Lateral rather than Dichotomous. Each Vegetative Bud contains a legion of preformed leaf primordia.
Conifers produce a strong tap root system that becomes highly branched and extensive.
The enclosed stems of Buds, exhibit explosive growth when permissive conditions return and the buds burst open. Stem branching is Lateral. Pinus monophylla has a cylindrical shape . This means that evaporation will be minimized compared to a flat blade. If the separate needles of 2-5 needle Pines are viewed together they form a cylinder.