Plant tissues

• (1) Epidermal tissue - covered in a waxy cuticle, to prevent water loss, cells are also transparent to let light through
• (2) Palisade mesophyll tissue - contains lots of chloroplasts and is the site of photosynthesis
• (3) Spongy mesophyll tissue - has air spaces between to allow the diffusion of air
• Xylem - transports water and mineral ions from the roots to the leaves
• Phloem - transports glucose (dissolved) and amino acids from the leaves to the rest of the plant
• Xylem features:

  • lignin - for strength
  • made up of dead cells joined together - creates a continuous tube
  • it carries water in the transpiration stream
• Phloem features

  • sieve plates - elongated cells with holes in the cell walls
• Plant tissues

  A) Cuticle

  B) Upper epidermis

  C) Spongy mesophyll

  D) Paliside mesophyll

  E) Lower epidermis

  F) Guard cells

  G) Stomata

  H) Air space

  I) Chloroplast

  
• (4) Lower epidermis - contains guard cells and stomata to allow gas exchange