Transport of Food and Water in Plants & Organ Comparison between Plants and Animals

Transport of Food and Water in Plants

Here are the directions that food and water move in a plant: Plants do not have blood vessels so what structures in the plant actually carries the food and water???

Special tubes (tissue) in the plant carry food and water. The tissue that carries food is called phloem. (pronounced “flow-em”) The tissue that carries water is called xylem. (pronounced “zie-lem”)

Have you ever noticed that some plants have branching veins in their leaves while others have parallel leaf veins?

Regardless of the type those veins contain the phloem and xylem cells. See… right here

Specifically, xylem and phloem are contained within structures called vascular bundles.

Plants with parallel leaf veins Monocot Dicot Stem Plants with branched leaf veins

In trees new xylem grows each year In trees new xylem grows each year. The phloem cells push toward the outside of the trunk. We call the xylem cells wood.

Remember…. Remember…. Phloem carries food. Xylem carries water. When bark is ripped off of trees the phloem is damaged. This can kill the tree if too much bark is removed. Remember…. Xylem carries water.

What does this cross-section tell you? Besides age…..

How Old???

Dripping sap usually comes from the phloem. This is how syrup for your pancakes begins. Maple syrup comes from maple trees.

Organ Comparison Between Plants and Animals

Plants Animals Reproduction Flower (anther/ovary) testes/ovary Food/Water Transport Xylem/phloem Arteries/Veins/Capillaries Support Cellulose Skeleton Obtaining Energy Makes own food Cannot make own food CO2 /O2 exchange through leaves CO2 /O2 exchange through lungs Gas Exchange