2.3 Vascular tissues and cell types

There are two vascular tissues in the vascular tissue system: xylem for water transport and phloem for transport of photosynthates.

2.3.1 Xylem

The xylem is a complex tissue containing a range of cell types including: vessel cells, tracheids, fibers, parenchyma

2.3.1.1 Vessel members

Figure 2.8. Large xylem vessel cells with thick red-stained lignified cell walls.
Figure 2.8. Large xylem vessel cells with thick red-stained lignified cell walls. Xylem parenchyma adjacent to the cells have blue green cell walls.

Figure 2.9.a. Xylem vessel cellsFigure 2.9.c. Zea mays stem

Figure 2.9. Xylem vessel cells with annular lignification in Coleus (left), annular (centre) and reticulate lignification in corn (right).

 

 

2.3.1.2 Tracheids

Figure 2.10.a. Tracheids in tangential section in Quercus

Figure 2.10.b. Tracheids in tangential section in Quercus
Figure 2.10. Tracheids in tangential section in Quercus (oak). Long cells with oblique end walls and round pits in the walls are tracheids. Small round cells are lines of ray parenchyma with cellulose cell walls. Wide cell on lower right is a vessel cell.

2.3.2 Phloem

2.3.2.1 Sieve cells and companion cells

Figure 2.11. Phloem tissue in LS including sieve cells and companion cells
Figure 2.11. Phloem tissue in LS including sieve cells and companion cells.
Figure 2.12. Diagram shows location of a narrow companion cell alongside a sieve cell and the sieve plate connecting two of the sieve cells
Figure 2.12. Diagram shows location of a narrow companion cell alongside a sieve cell and the sieve plate connecting two of the sieve cells.

2.3.3 Procambium cell development

Figure 2.13. Development of a procambium cell into various vascular tissue cell types.
Figure 2.13. Development of a procambium cell into various vascular tissue cell types.

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