Xylem

Definition

Xylem is a type of vascular tissue in plants responsible for the transport of water and nutrients from the roots to other parts of the plant. It also provides structural support.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Xylem consists primarily of tracheids and vessel elements, which are dead at maturity.
2. In seedless vascular plants, xylem helps in the vertical growth of the plant by providing rigidity.
3. Xylem also transports dissolved minerals along with water from the soil.
4. The secondary xylem forms wood in trees and shrubs.
5. Transpiration, a process where water evaporates from the leaves, drives the upward movement of water through xylem.

Review Questions

• What are the primary components of xylem tissue?
• How does xylem contribute to the structural integrity of seedless vascular plants?
• What role does transpiration play in the function of xylem?

Related terms

Phloem:

Vascular tissue responsible for transporting sugars and other metabolic products downward from the leaves.

Tracheid:

A type of elongated cell in xylem that helps transport water and provides structural support.

Transpiration: The process by which moisture is carried through plants from roots to small pores on the underside of leaves, where it changes to vapor and is released into the atmosphere.