Explain how the internal structures of vascular and nonvascular plants transport food and water in five bullet points
1. Vascular plants have specialized structures called xylem and phloem that transport water and nutrients throughout the plant. Xylem is responsible for upward movement of water from the roots to the rest of the plant, while phloem transports sugars and other organic molecules from the leaves to other parts of the plant.
2. Xylem tissue is made up of long, tube-like structures called vessels or tracheids, which are interconnected to form a continuous network throughout the plant. These structures have thick cell walls and are dead at maturity, allowing for efficient movement of water through capillary action and transpiration.
3. Phloem tissue is composed of two types of cells: sieve tube elements and companion cells. Sieve tube elements form long, cylindrical sieve tubes that transport sugars and other organic molecules. Companion cells are connected to sieve tube elements through plasmodesmata and provide metabolic support and energy for sieve tube function.
4. Nonvascular plants, such as mosses and liverworts, do not have specialized vascular tissues and rely on simple structures to transport water and nutrients. They have rhizoids, which are thread-like structures that anchor the plant to the ground and absorb water and minerals. These rhizoids do not have the ability to conduct water over long distances.
5. Nonvascular plants also exhibit capillary action and rely on diffusion to transport water and nutrients between cells. They have a simple body plan that allows for direct absorption and distribution of water and nutrients across their tissues, but they are limited in their ability to grow tall or survive in dry environments compared to vascular plants.
shorter
- Vascular plants have specialized structures called xylem and phloem that transport water and nutrients.
- Xylem transports water from the roots upwards, while phloem transports sugars and nutrients from the leaves throughout the plant.
- Xylem is made up of vessels or tracheids, which are dead at maturity and allow for efficient water movement through capillary action and transpiration.
- Phloem is composed of sieve tube elements and companion cells, which work together to transport sugars and organic molecules.
- Nonvascular plants lack specialized vascular tissues and rely on simple structures like rhizoids for water absorption and diffusion for nutrient distribution.
shorter
- Vascular plants have xylem and phloem to transport water and nutrients.
- Xylem moves water from roots upwards, phloem transports sugars and nutrients throughout the plant.
- Xylem is made of vessels or tracheids, facilitating efficient water movement.
- Phloem consists of sieve tube elements and companion cells for the transportation of sugars.
- Nonvascular plants lack specialized vascular tissues and rely on rhizoids and diffusion for water and nutrient transport.