Flowers and shoots are derived from specialized groups of stem cells t
ermed meristems. Recent studies in Arabidopsis have identified factors
that contribute to meristem structure and identity, such as CLAVATA1,
CLAVATA3, and SHOOTMERISTEMLESS, which act in both shoot and flower m
eristems, as well as LEAFY and APETALA1 which specifically determine a
floral fate.