What type of growth is characterized by cell division within apical meristems?

Primary growth is the type of growth specifically associated with cell division that occurs within apical meristems located at the tips of roots and shoots. This process enables plants to extend their length, facilitating upward growth in shoots and downward growth in roots. It is crucial for the development of primary tissues, which includes the formation of the plant's primary body structure composed of epidermis, cortex, and vascular tissues.

Apical meristems contain undifferentiated cells that continually divide, allowing for this elongation. The results of primary growth are new leaves and shoots, as well as root hairs that increase the plant's ability to absorb water and nutrients. Understanding this type of growth is fundamental in botany, as primary growth is essential for the overall growth and development of a plant during its early stages of life.

Secondary growth, on the other hand, relates to the thickening of stems and roots via lateral meristems and does not involve apical meristems. Cellular growth is a more general term that does not specifically refer to plant growth processes in the context given. Intercalary growth occurs in certain plants (like grasses) at specific regions between nodes but is not characterized by the general division in apical meristems.