The aerial part of the plant which is found above the surface of the soil is known as the shoot system. The main characteristics of shoot system are:
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The shoot system consists of stem, leaves and flowers.
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The main axis of the shoot system is known as the stem.
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The stem is the branched part of the plant body.
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The stem bears the green flat photosynthetic part of the body known as the leaves.
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The leaves are of various shapes and sizes.
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The point where the leaves originate from the stem is known as the node.
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The part of the stem that lies between the two nodes is known as the inter nodes.
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The bud develops from the axils of the leaves.
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The buds which are found at the axils of the leaves are known as the axillary buds.
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The bud found at the tip of the stem is known as the apical bud or terminal bud.
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The growth of the stem occurs by the activity of the terminal bud.
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The buds develop into either vegetative branch or flower.
