Example of Plant tissues
Epidermal tissue
Made up of a single layer of cells that cover the outer surface of plants.
It protects inner tissues of plants from mechanical damage, desiccation and infection.
Photosynthetic tissue
It is a group of cells rich in chloroplasts containing chlorophyll that trap light for photosynthesis.
Function: Site for photosynthesis.
Parenchyma tissue
Consists of special thin-walled irregularly shaped cells.
They are found in the cortex and pith.
Form packaging and storage cells.
Used to store nutrients, salts and water.
Vascular tissue
Also called vascular bundles
Consists of xylem and phloem.
Phloem translocate manufactured food from the leaves to other parts of the plant.
Xylem conduct water and dissolved mineral salts from the roots to other parts of the plant.
Xylem also provides mechanical support to the plant.
Phloem tissues
Consists of two types of living cells; sieve elements and companion cells.
The sieve elements are connected end to end separated by perforated sieve plates.
The companion cells contain numerous mitochondria
Xylem tissues
Consists of dead lignified xylem vessels or tracheids.
The cells are connected end to end.
Xylem vessels do not have cross walls hence the cells form a long hollow tube.
Xylem tracheids have perforated cross walls separating the cells.
Meristematic tissue
A group of undifferentiated cells in plants which are capable of continuous mitotic cell division.
Meristems are located at the tips of roots and shoots, bases of the internodes and in vascular cambium and cork cambium.
It brings about growth through cell division.
Characteristics of meristematic cells
- Have thin cell walls.
- Have dense cytoplasm.
- Lack vacuoles.
- Small in size.
- Cuboid shaped
