Download Table 1: The Basic Tissue Types in Vascular Plants

Table 1: The Basic Tissue Types in Vascular Plants
The roots, the stems and the leaves of plants are primarily composed of three tissue types:
 The dermal tissue, the vascular tissue, and the ground tissue
Tissue
Dermal
Tissues
Description
Two tissue types:
Epidermis and periderm
 Outermost cell layers
 Often have thicker cell walls
 Covered with a waxy cuticle
Two tissue types:
Xylem and Phloem
Vascular
Tissues
Xylem: Thick-walled cells, dead at
maturity
Phloem: Thin-walled cells, living at
maturity
Three Tissue Types:
 Parenchyma: Thin walled cells, living
at maturity. Make up the bulk of the
plant body
Ground
Tissues
 Collenchyma: Thick-walled cells,
living at maturity
 Sclerenchyma: Cells with linings in
their cell walls(secondary cell wall);
dead at maturity
Role
Protect against
 Injury
 Herbivores
 Disease
 Water loss
Xylem: conveys water and
dissolved minerals upward from
roots into the shoots.
Phloem: transports food made in
mature leaves to the roots and to
non-photosynthetic parts of the
shoot system.
Parenchyma: Storage of nutrients,
carbohydrates and water.
Collenchyma: Supports and protect
the plant body and provides
flexibility. Specialized to support
plant growth and development.
Sclerenchyma: Strengthens and
supports various parts of the plant
Image
Figure 1: Stem Tissue Anatomy
Figure 2: Leaf Tissue Anatomy