8.1 xylem & phloem

• xylem transports water & mineral ions from the roots to stem & leaves (one way)
• xylem also provide structural support to plant
• xylem has no cell contents to allow free passage of water
• the cells in structure of xylem vessels join end to end with no cross walls to form a long continuous tube to allow free passage of water
• xylem has thick walls with lignin to provide support to plant
• phloem transports food/nutrients made by plant, from photosynthesizing leaves to non-photosynthesizing regions in the roots & stems