The water pipes
Xylem: tubes that carry water up.
A tall tree drinks from the ground
A tree is 30 metres tall. Water from the soil must reach its topmost leaf.
What kind of structure would carry water up?
What this lesson covers
The idea
Xylem, a complex tissue of tracheids, vessels, xylem parenchyma and xylem fibres, transports water and minerals from the roots to other parts and gives strength; xylem parenchyma is its only living component.
A tall tree drinks from the ground
A tree is 30 metres tall. Water from the soil must reach its topmost leaf.
What kind of structure would carry water up?
- Long tubes from the roots to the leaves
- Short closed boxes
- Sheets of solid wood with no gaps
Pour water in
Press Pour water and see which cells carry it. Then show which cells are alive.
Xylem
Xylem is a complex permanent tissue that transports water and minerals from the roots to other parts of the plant. It also provides strength. Xylem consists of tracheids, vessels, xylem parenchyma and xylem fibres. Tracheids and vessels are tubular and thick-walled. Xylem parenchyma is the only living component; the other cells are primarily sclerenchymatous.
Notes
Xylem carries water and minerals up from the roots and gives strength. Tracheids and vessels are tubular and thick-walled; xylem parenchyma is the only living part.
Check yourself
Xylem transports…
Xylem has four kinds of cells: tracheids, vessels, xylem parenchyma and xylem fibres. Only one is living. How many are not living?
Answer: 3 kinds
4 − 1 = 3 are not living: tracheids, vessels and xylem fibres.
Which of these is not a part of xylem?
- food from leaves to other parts. That is phloem.
- oxygen into the blood. Plants do not have blood.
- water and minerals from the roots to other parts — correct. Yes.
- Sieve tubes — correct. Yes. Sieve tubes are in phloem.
- Vessels. Vessels are in xylem.
- Xylem fibres. Xylem fibres are in xylem.