In a stem, the terminal bud is located where?

In a stem, the terminal bud is located where?

• A. At the tip of the stem
• B. At the base of the stem
• C. On the underside of leaves
• D. In the root

Answer: (A)

The terminal bud sits at the tip of the stem, where the shoot apical meristem drives vertical, primary growth and pushes the stem upward. This apical region is also where hormones like auxin are produced, promoting elongation and, at the same time, suppressing the development of side buds along the stem—a phenomenon called apical dominance. Because of that, the main growth appears to come from the tip rather than from other parts of the stem. In contrast, structures at other locations serve different roles: the base of the stem is involved in supporting and connecting to the root system, the underside of leaves relates to leaf surface functions, and buds for branching are found in the leaf axils along the stem, not at the tip.

The terminal bud sits at the tip of the stem, where the shoot apical meristem drives vertical, primary growth and pushes the stem upward. This apical region is also where hormones like auxin are produced, promoting elongation and, at the same time, suppressing the development of side buds along the stem—a phenomenon called apical dominance. Because of that, the main growth appears to come from the tip rather than from other parts of the stem.

In contrast, structures at other locations serve different roles: the base of the stem is involved in supporting and connecting to the root system, the underside of leaves relates to leaf surface functions, and buds for branching are found in the leaf axils along the stem, not at the tip.