Root hair cells contain hairs that increase the surface area of the root, allowing it to absorb water and dissolved minerals more effectively.
Root hair cells do not contain chloroplasts because they are underground.
This is a diagram of a root hair cell.
A) Root hair
B) Cell wall
C) Vacuole
D) Nucleus
Xylem cells are found in the plant stem. They form long tubes that carry water and dissolved minerals from the roots to the leaves.
Xylem cells have very thick walls containing lignin which provides support to the plant.
Because the cell walls of a xylem cell are sealed with lignin, the xylem cells die and the end walls between the cells have broken down. This allows the cells to form a long tube so water and dissolved minerals can flow easily.
Xylem cells have no nucleus, cytoplasm, vacuole or chloroplasts, allowing for water and minerals to flow easier due to the extra space within the cell.
This is a diagram of a Xylem Cell.
A) Thick walls containing lignin
B) Remains of end walls
C) Water
Phloem tubes carry dissolved sugars up and down the plant.
1 type of Phloem cell is called a Phloem vessel cell (no nucleus, only limited cytoplasm & pores called sieve plates which allow for dissolved sugars to move throughout the cell interior).
Another type of Phloem cell is called a companion cell which is connected to the phloem vessel cell via pores. The mitochondria in the companion cell provides energy to the phloem vessel cell.
This is a diagram of a Phloem cell.
A) Phloem vessel cell
B) Companion cell
C) Pore
D) Sieve plates
E) Sugars
Many types of plant cells retain the ability to differentiate throughout life
