What does the term 'woody' describe in relation to plant stems?

The term 'woody' is used to describe plant stems that are primarily composed of hard, fibrous tissues. This characteristic is significant because woody stems have a structure that provides support and stability to plants, enabling them to grow taller and withstand various environmental factors such as wind or heavy rainfall. These stems typically contain a complex arrangement of xylem tissue, which helps with water transport and contributes to the overall durability of the plant.

In contrast, the other descriptions do not align with the definition of 'woody.' Soft and pliable stems are typically referred to as herbaceous, indicating they lack the reinforcing hard tissues found in woody plants. Similarly, stems that are herbaceous and green, as mentioned in another option, also do not possess the hard, woody characteristics and instead tend to be more flexible. Lastly, stems being completely hollow is not a defining trait of woody stems; many woody plants do have solid stems, and although some may have hollow parts, this is not a characteristic of all woody plants.