Vascular tissue consists of xylem and phloem and evolved to transport water and nutrients in land plants. Xylem is composed of tracheids and vessel elements that form tubes to transport water and minerals from roots to leaves. Phloem is made of sieve tube cells and companion cells that transport sugar and nutrients in the opposite direction from leaves to other plant parts. Together, xylem and phloem allow for circulation of water, minerals and organic compounds throughout the plant.

1. Plant Tissue Systems:
VASCULAR TISSUE

2. Vascular Tissue

3. Vascular tissue
apparently evolved as an
adaptation to life on land.
It consists of a series of
elements that form tubes
throughout the plant. It is
made up of two different
kind of tissues –xylem
and phloem.

4. Xylem
Xylem consists of two types
of cells known as tracheids
and vessel elements.
Tracheids and vessel
elements form tube-shaped
structures that provide
pathways for water and
minerals to travel from the
roots to the leaves. While
tracheids are found in all
vascular plants, vessels are
found only in angiosperms.
Phloem
Phloem is composed mostly of
cells called sieve-tube cells
and companion cells. These
cells assist in the transport of
sugar and nutrients produced
during photosynthesis from
the leaves to other parts of
the plant. While tracheid cells
are nonliving, sieve-tube and
companion cells of the phloem
are living. Companion cells
possess a nucleus and
actively transport
sugar into and out
of sieve-tubes.

5. Xylem
Carries water and
nutrients that enter the plant in
the root up through the stem
and out to all parts of the leaf.
Phloem
Runs parallel to the xylem and
carries sugar that is produced in
the leaves, dissolved in fluid, to
all parts of the plant.

6. • Phloem is the living tissue that carries organic
nutrients to all parts of the plant where needed.
• Xylem transports water, but it also transports some
nutrients.
• Vascular cambium is a type of meristem - a tissue
consisting of embryonic (not specialized) cells which can
produce other (and more differentiated) plant tissues
originate.

8. Vascular
Tissue
Xylem Tissue Phloem Tissue
Function • Conduct water and dissolved minerals
from root to leaves of plants
• Give mechanical strength (support) to the
plant body
• Conduct food and other organic
substances
Cell types Tracheids Vessel members Companion
cells
Sieve-tube
elements
Characteristics • elongated and
lignified
• tapering end
walls that
overlap with
adjacent
tracheids
• They give
support to the
plant.
• Tracheids are
dead cells with
empty lumens
when mature.
• cylindrical,
tube-like
structures
• very long and
tubular
structures
(formed by the
fusion of
several cells
end to end in a
row)
• Vessels are
dead at
functional
maturity and
are perforated.
• parenchyma
cells adjoining
the sieve tube
cells
• They assist
the sieve tube
cells in the
conduction of
food.
• They are living
cells with
elongated
nucleus.
• elongated cells
placed end to
end to form a
tube
• Their end
walls have
pores in them
which forms
the sieve
plates.
• The main
function of the
sieve tubes is
to carry food,
especially
carbohydrates.

9. Sources:
o http://biology.about.com/od/plantbiology/ss/plant-tissue-systems_2.htm
o http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/plants/vascular.html
o http://www.ehow.com/list_7153104_functions-vascular-tissue-plants_.html
o http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/plants/support.html
o http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/plants/parenchyma.h
tml
o http://tantebazar.com/gardening_histology_of_plant_part_2.php