Plant Structure

Science

Plant tissue that moves water and nutrients up from the roots

Xylem

Plant tissue that moves water and nutrients up from the roots. Xylem. Xylem is a type of plant tissue that transports water and nutrients from the roots to other parts of the plant.

The vascular tissue that transports food in plants

Phloem

The vascular tissue that transports food in plants phloem. Phloem is the part of a plant that moves nutrients, like sugars, from the leaves to other parts of the plant.

A hollow xylem cell with thick walls that transports water

Tracheid

A hollow xylem cell with thick walls that transports water. Tracheid. Tracheids are tube-like plant cells that help move water and provide structural support.

The cells at the tips of roots and stems, as they divide, the root and stem lengthen

Apical meristem

The cells at the tips of roots and stems, as they divide, the root and stem lengthen. Apical meristem is a region of growth in plants where new cells are produced, allowing the plant to grow taller and roots to grow longer.

An flexible plant cell with unevenly thick walls, it forms supportive tissue in plants

Collenchyma

An flexible plant cell with unevenly thick walls, it forms supportive tissue in plants. Collenchyma is a type of plant cell that provides flexible structural support, especially in areas of growth.

A nucleated cell that helps to transport substances through the sieve cells of the phloem

Companion cell

A nucleated cell that helps to transport substances through the sieve cells of the phloem. Companion cell. In simple terms, a companion cell is a type of plant cell that supports and aids the function of sieve tube elements in the phloem, facilitating the transport of nutrients.

Meristem tissue that produces the protective outer layer of roots and stems

Cork cambium

Meristem tissue that produces the protective outer layer of roots and stems. Cork cambium. Cork cambium is a type of plant tissue that helps form bark by producing new outer layers.

The outermost protective layer of a plant

Plant epidermis

The outermost protective layer of a plant is called the plant epidermis. It is like the plant's skin, helping to protect it from the outside environment.

One of a pair of cells that open and close plant stoma, to control gas exchange

Guard cell

One of a pair of cells that open and close plant stoma, to control gas exchange. Guard cell. Guard cells are like tiny doormen that control when a plant breathes by opening and closing tiny pores on leaves called stomata.

A region of unspecialized cells, which divide to form different types of cells as a plant grows

Meristem

A region of unspecialized cells, which divide to form different types of cells as a plant grows. Meristem. Meristem is the part of plants where growth takes place, producing new cells for various functions.

Spherical, thin-walled cell with a large central vacuole, the most common plant cell

Parenchyma cell

Spherical, thin-walled cell with a large central vacuole, the most common plant cell. Parenchyma cell. Parenchyma cells are basic plant cells that store nutrients and help with healing and growth.

Plant cells with thick, rigid cell walls that provide support

Sclerenchyma

Plant cells with thick, rigid cell walls that provide support. Sclerenchyma. They are supportive plant cells with thick walls that help the plant stand upright and protect it.

A phloem cell arranged end to end to form a sieve tube

Sieve tube element

A phloem cell arranged end to end to form a sieve tube. Sieve tube element. Sieve tube elements are long phloem cells that help transport nutrients like sugars throughout a plant.

Lateral meristem tissue that produces xylem and phloem cells, used to thicken roots and stems

Vascular cambium

Lateral meristem tissue that produces xylem and phloem cells, used to thicken roots and stems. Vascular cambium. Vascular cambium is a type of plant tissue that helps plants get thicker by making new layers of cells.

A hollow, tubular cell that forms xylem vessels, which carry water and minerals

Vessel element

A hollow, tubular cell that forms xylem vessels, which carry water and minerals. Vessel element. Vessel elements are specialized cells in plants that help transport water and nutrients from the roots to the rest of the plant.

The tissue layer under the epidermis, it transports water and minerals

Cortex

The tissue layer under the epidermis, it transports water and minerals. Cortex. In plants, the cortex is the layer of cells that helps move nutrients and water to where they're needed.

The inner layer of the cortex, it encloses the vascular tissue

Endodermis

The inner layer of the cortex, it encloses the vascular tissue. Endodermis. The endodermis is a protective layer in plant roots that helps regulate water and nutrient flow to the plant's vascular system.

The stalk connecting a leaf blade to the plant stem

Petiole

The stalk connecting a leaf blade to the plant stem. Petiole. The petiole is the part of a plant that attaches the leaf to the stem, allowing nutrients and water to flow between them.

The tough cell layer that protects root tips as they grow

Root cap

The tough cell layer that protects root tips as they grow. Root cap. The root cap is a protective tissue that covers the tip of a plant root, helping it push through the soil as it grows.

The loss of water vapor through the stomata in a plant’s leaves

Transpiration

The loss of water vapor through the stomata in a plants leaves. Transpiration. Transpiration is the process where plants release water vapor into the air through tiny openings in their leaves called stomata.

The growth of a new plant from a seed

Germination

The growth of a new plant from a seed. Germination. It's when a seed starts to grow into a plant with roots and leaves.

The tissue that makes up the majority of a plant, it consists of the parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma

Ground tissue

The tissue that makes up the majority of a plant, it consists of the parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma. Ground tissue is the part of a plant that fills the space between the skin and the core, helping with support and storage.

The layer of cells just under the leaf epidermis where most photosynthesis takes place

Palisade mesophyll

The layer of cells just under the leaf epidermis where most photosynthesis takes place. Palisade mesophyll. These are tall, closely packed cells in a leaf where the majority of photosynthesis occurs.

The layer of loose tissue and air spaces under a leaf’s palisade mesophyll layer

Spongy mesophyll

The layer of loose tissue and air spaces under a leafs palisade mesophyll layer. Spongy mesophyll allows gases like carbon dioxide and oxygen to move freely in the leaf for photosynthesis.

Plant movement independent of the direction of the stimulus

Nastic movement

Plant movement independent of the direction of the stimulus. Nastic movement. Nastic movement is when a plant moves in response to a stimulus but the direction of the movement does not depend on the direction of the stimulus.

The outer covering of a plant or animal

Dermal tissue

The outer covering of a plant or animal. Dermal tissue. It is the protective outer layer of a plant that helps prevent water loss and shields it from environmental damage.

The small openings on a plant leaf that allows oxygen and carbon dioxide in and out

Stomata

The small openings on a plant leaf that allows oxygen and carbon dioxide in and out. Stomata. Stomata are tiny pores on leaves that help plants breathe by exchanging gases with the air.

The storage tissue at the center of vascular plant stems

Pith

The storage tissue at the center of vascular plant stems. Pith. Pith is the spongy tissue inside the stems of plants that helps store nutrients and support the plant's structure.

The older wood at the center of a tree trunk, it no longer conducts water

Heartwood

The older wood at the center of a tree trunk, it no longer conducts water. Heartwood. Heartwood is the dense, inner part of a tree trunk that provides structural support but does not conduct water.

The secondary xylem layer around the herartwood, it transports fluids

Sapwood

The secondary xylem layer around the heartwood, it transports fluids. Sapwood. Sapwood is the part of a tree that carries water and nutrients from the roots to the rest of the tree.

The thin, flat part of a leaf

Leaf blade

The thin, flat part of a leaf. Leaf blade. The leaf blade is the broad, flat part of the leaf that helps in photosynthesis by capturing sunlight.

Growth that occurs at the tips of the stems and roots of a plant

Primary growth

Growth that occurs at the tips of the stems and roots of a plant. primary growth. Primary growth is when plants get taller because their stems and roots grow longer from the tips.

Plant growth that thickens stems and roots

Secondary growth

Plant growth that thickens stems and roots. Secondary growth. Secondary growth is the process by which plants increase in thickness or girth, primarily through the activity of the vascular cambium.

The center of a root or stem that contains the phloem and xylem

Vascular cylinder

The center of a root or stem that contains the phloem and xylem is the vascular cylinder. The vascular cylinder is the part of plants where water and nutrients are transported.

A hairlike growth that increases a root’s surface area for water and mineral absorption

Root hair

A hairlike growth that increases a root's surface area for water and mineral absorption. Root hair. Root hairs are tiny extensions on plant roots that help absorb more water and nutrients from the soil.