Plant Tissue

Question 1

What is the xylem?

Answer 1

The xylem transports water and minerals from the roots up the plant stem and into the leaves. In a mature flowering plant or tree, most of the cells that make up the xylem are specialised cells called vessels.

Answer 2

Vessels lose their end walls so the xylem forms a continuous, hollow tube. They become strengthened by a chemical called
lignin. The cells are no longer alive. Lignin gives strength and support to the plant. We call lignified cells wood.

Question 3

What sort of process is transport in the xylem? What does it not require?

Answer 3

Transport in the xylem is a physical process. It does not require energy.

Question 4

What does the phloem do?

Answer 4

The phloem moves food substances that the plant has produced by photosynthesis to where they are needed for processes like: growing parts of the plant for immediate use, storage organs such as bulbs and
tubers, developing seeds.