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In [[botany]], the '''shoot''' is one of two primary sections of a [[plant]]; the other is the [[root]]. The shoot refers to what is generally the upper portion of a plant, and consists of [[plant stem|stems]], [[leaf|leaves]], [[flower]]s, and [[fruit]]s. It is derived from the embryonic [[epicotyl]], the portion of the [[embryo]] above the point of attachment to the [[seed]] leaves ([[cotyledon]]s).
In the shoot, [[water]] and [[nutrient]]s are transported from the root to the leaves in conducting [[biological tissue|tissue]] called [[xylem]], which consists primarily of [[tracheid]]s and [[vascular tissue|vessel]] members. Photoassimilates are carried away from mature leaves in conducting tissue called [[phloem]], which is mainly made up of [[sieve]] cells and sieve tube members.
In everyday speech, shoots are often confused with stems. Stems, which are a critical component of shoots, provide an axis for buds, fruits, and leaves.
[[Image:Cucumber leaf.jpg|thumb|The shoot of a [[cucumber]].]]
[[Image:Cucumber leaf.jpg|thumb|The shoot of a [[cucumber]].]]
A shoot may also refer to the new growth of a plant stem. Because the [[natural fiber|fibres]] in this new growth have not yet completed secondary [[cell wall]] development, these shoots are soft and are often [[eating|eaten]] by animals. As a protection, some plants (eg. [[bracken]]) produce [[toxin]]s that make their shoots inedible or less palatable.
A new plant from the [[root]] of the old plant; also any growing [[twig]] or [[axis]].{{SCH}} A shoot may also refer to the new growth of a plant stem.
