Plant Tissues

• Epidermal cells


  Form epidermal tissue
• Upper epidermis

  Covers the top of the leaf
• Lower epidermis

  Covers the bottom of the leaf
• Epidermis

  • Protects the surface of the leaf
• Upper epidermis

  • Transparent to allow light to pass through
• Waxy cuticle


  Thin layer of oily material that reduces water evaporation
• Stomata

  Tiny pores that allow carbon dioxide to enter and oxygen to leave
• Guard cells

  Found on either side of stomata and help control water vapor
• Palisade mesophyll


  Packed with chloroplasts that contain chlorophyll for photosynthesis
• Spongy mesophyll

  Full of air spaces that allow gas exchange
• Xylem

  Transports water and dissolved mineral ions from roots to leaves
• Phloem

  Transports dissolved sugars produced by photosynthesis from leaves to rest of plant
• Translocation

  Movement of sugars through phloem tissue
• Meristem tissue


  Contains stem cells that can differentiate into different plant tissues
• Meristem tissue is found at growing tips like shoots and roots