Xylem
- Created by: Harriet Goodship
- Created on: 07-01-13 20:51
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- Xylem
- Function
- Transport water and minerals from the roots up to the leaves and other parts of the plant
- Adaptations to its function
- Made from dead cells aligned end-to-end to form a continuous column
- Narrow tubes so water column doesn't break easily and capillary action is effective
- Pits in the lignified walls allow water to move sideways from one vessel to another
- Lignin deposited in the walls in spiral patterns allows xylem to stretch as the plant grows and enables the stem to bend
- The flow of water is not impeded because -there are no end walls -there are no cell contents -there is no nucleus or cytoplasm -lignin thickening prevents the wall from collapsing
- It is in dicotyledonous plants (small leaves)
- Lignin
- Waterproofs the walls of the cells so the cells die
- Strengthens vessel to prevent collapse
- Thickens cell wall to allow flexibility
- Dead
- Pits
- Pores in wall of vessel where lignification is not complete
- Allow water to leave one vessel and pass onto another or pass into living parts of the plant
- Function
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