water uptake

• Root hair cells


  Specialized to absorb water by osmosis and minerals by active transport
• Root hair cells


  • Hair-like projection on each cell penetrates between the soil particles and provides a larger surface area for absorption
• Water uptake pathway in plants


  1. Enters root via root hair cells

  2. Moves into root cortex

  3. Enters xylem vessels

  4. Moves up stem

  5. Arrives at mesophyll cells in leaves
• How water moves through the cells of the root cortex is not known for sure, although most is thought to pass within or between the cell walls
• Investigating water movement in the shoot system


  1. Place shoots of a leafy plant in a dilute solution of methylene blue or other suitable stain

  2. Expose shoots to light and leave for up to 24 hours

  3. Cut a section of the stem and observe under microscope

  4. Staining visible in xylem vessels and leaf veins
• This experiment demonstrates that water moves up the stem to the leaves in xylem vessels