A root grows from its tip. Cells divide in the meristem, lengthen in the elongation zone and take on their jobs in the differentiation zone, while the root cap protects the tip as it pushes through soil.
Project-generated teaching illustration (AI-generated, simplified; marker positions are approximate)
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Labelled parts
Key points
Mitosis happens mainly in the meristematic zone, just behind the root cap.
Growth in length comes mostly from cell elongation just above the meristem.
Root hairs appear in the differentiation zone and increase the area for absorption.
