Vascular tissue

Vascular tissue conducts substances throughout the plant body and provide strength and support. Xylem consists of four type of cell: a) Tracheids b) Vessel elements c) Xylem parenchyma d) Xylem fibres

Tracheids
These are single cell that are elongated and lignified .
Tracheids are dead cell when mature because the walls

are thickened with lignin and prevents the entry of food. Water able to pass through the empty lumen without obstruction. The main conducting cells in gymnosperm such as pine and seedless vascular plants example fern. The end wall of tracheids have many bordered pits that allow water pass through.

Vessels
Flowering plants (angiosperms)have a very efficient water

conducting cell called vessel element. Vessels are longer,tubular structure made up of many vessel element s joined together that end in row. These vessel element are shorter but wider than the tracheids.These are hollows and end the wall have holes called perforation. Vessels are formed when adjacent vessel element in a row fuse due to their end walls breaking down. The cavity forms a channel in which water is conducted easily from one vessel element to the next without any obstruction. These vessel elements also have their pits in their side walls that allow lateral transport of water.

 The vessel element are dead as their cell walls are thickened

with lignin deposits. The vessel first formed are the protoxylem located behind the apical meristem where elongation of neighbouring cells is still occuring. Protoxylem can be strectched. In this vessels ,the lignin is deposited in rings or spirals that act as reinforcements for the vessels during elongation As grow proceeds, more xylem vessels develop and there is more extensive lignification forming metexylem . Metaxylem vessels cannot be stretch or grow as they are dead , rigid, fully lignified tubes. These vessels have three types of lignification : scalariform,reticulate and pitted.

 Two types of xylem tissues:

a) Primary xylem Frist xylem to appear in flowering plant Develops in root and shoot apices Consists of protoxylem and metaxylem b) Secondary xylem Formed when is secondary thickening as a result of vascular cambium division. Xylem is stiff Secondary thickening occurs in woody plants.

Xylem parenchyma
Occur in primary and secondary xylem
Form radial sheets of tissue called medullary rays that

connect primary xylem to the secondary xylem and pith rays Store food , transport water and gaseous exchange

Xylem fibres
Are shorterand narrower than tracheids
Thicker walls but have pits similar to those in tracheids Strong and provide additional mechanical strength.

Function provide a system to transport water over long distance Lignified walls of the tracheids and vessels have high tensile strength. Provide mechanical support by helping to keep to plant upright

Phloem

Primary phloem

Secondary phloem