entering a plant

• to be able to be transported around a plant water has to get from the soil, through the roots and into the xylem
• water enters through root hair cells and passes through the root cortex, including the endodermis to reach the xylem
• the cross section of a root

  A) endodermis

  B) root hair

  C) xylem

  D) cortex

  
• water is drawn into the roots via osmosis. water always moves from areas of high water potential to areas of lower water potential going down a water potential gradient
• the soil around a plants roots has high water potential and leaves have lower because water is constantly evaporating from them

  • this creates a water potential gradient that keeps water moving through the plant in the right direction
  • tips of the roots to the leaves
• osmosis

  the diffusion of water molecules across a partially permeable membrane from an area of high water potential to an area of low water potential against a water potential gradient