The plant stem is a component of the shoot system, the portion of the plant body of the angiosperms having phototrophic response. Besides the stem, the plant shoot also consists of the leaves and the reproductive organs.
The stem has been described as a “central axis” to which all other parts are attached. In most plants the stems are conspicuous aboveground, but in some species they are hidden below the ground. Based on various criteria, there are other more classifications of the stem.