13.

2 The Vascular Plant Body

Vascular Plant Systems
plants are classified into having vascular tissue and not having vascular tissues
Vascular plants have two organ systems: shoot system and root system
shoot system: made of up stem and leaves ( plant organs)
leaves: specialized to perform photosynthesis, grow from stems
stems: bear reproductive structures of mature plant
root system: roots. Anchors plant by penetrating into soil
absorbs water and mineral nutrients
Plant Cells
Parenchyma Cells
most of the plant consists of parenchyma
thin-walled cells
basis for many plant structures, capable of wide variety of functions (storage, photosynthesis, gas exchange,
protection, tissue repair and replacement)
spherical in shape, cell walls flatten when packed tightly together
cells on leaves and green stems have many chloroplasts (produces glucose from photosynthesis)
others found in roots and fruits lack chloroplasts but have large vacuoles (can store substances like starch, water
and oil)
alive at maturity

Collenchyma Cells
long strings that can be pulled from celery stalk
often elongated and occur in long strands or cylinders that provide support for the surrounding cells
can have unevenly thickened cell walls
as cell grows, thinner portions of cell wall can expand growth pattern makes them flexible allows
plants to bend without breaking
tissue repair and replacement
alive at maturity

Sclerenchyma Cell
have thick secondary cell walls that contains lignin, a strong substance that makes cell walls very tough and hard
die once they completed growth and development, dead at maturity
lack cytoplasm and other living components when they mature, leaving thick, rigid cell walls remain
primary function: provide support for mature plants
two types:
sclereids (stone cells): distributed randomly throughout plant.
shorter than fibre cells, have irregular shape
responsible for gritty texture of pears and hard covering of seed coats
fibre cells: needle shaped, have thick cell walls, small interior spaces
form touch elastic tissue when stacked end-to end
used to make ropes, linens, and textiles

Plant Tissues
four types
meristematic tissue: where new cells are produced
dermal tissue: forms outer covering of plant, includes epidermis and periderm
 ground tissue: many functions, makes up most of inside of plant, includes all 3 types of cells
vascular tissue: transports water, minerals and other substances throughout the plant and provides
support, includes xylem and phloem

Meristematic Tissue
all vascular plants have
plants continue to produce new cells by mitosis in meristematic tissue throughout their lives
these embryonic tissues make up meristems - areas of rapidly dividing cells
as these cells mature, they specialize
located in different regions of a plant
primary growth - cells produced from these types of meristems cause roots, stems and leaves to grow longer
throughout life of plant
Apical meristem - found at apices, or tips of plants.
tips of plants root and stems are constantly growing longer due to apical meristem
Intercalary meristems - tissues found along stems and at the base of leaf blades of some vascular plants,
such as horsetails and grasses
secondary growth - an increase in circumference, or girth, of roots and stems. Results from division of cells in two
types of lateral meristems:
adds vascular tissue, strengthens the stem, provides support as plant grows taller
vascular cambium: thin layer of meristematic tissue that runs along the length of roots and stems and
produces new vascular tissue. Necessary for secondary growth
cork cambium: produces cells that develop tough cell walls and form a protective layer on the outside of
stems and roots. Makes up out bark on woody plants

Dermal Tissue
makes up the outer covering of plants
epidermis: single layer of dermal-tissue cells that forms a protective covering over the body of non-woody
(herbaceous) plants and young wood plants
periderm - formed by older woody plants, produced as part of secondary growth. Replaces the epidermis to form
corck in woody stems and roots

Specialized Epidermal Tissue: Guard Cells, Trichomes, and Root Hairs

some epidermal cells are specialized for a specific function
guard cells: paired cells that surround and regulate the opening of stomata (sing. stoma)
stomata: small openings, usually in the leaf, allows for gas exchange
some epidermal cells have specialized structures or extensions on their surface
trichomes: tiny growths on surface of epidermis, often found on stems and leaves
keep leaf surfaces cool and reduce evaporation
some may excrete sticky or toxic substances to repel herbivores
some are deadly and puncture the skin of herbivores
root hairs: tiny extensions of individual epidermal cells on plant roots, increase surface area available
for the absorption of water and nutrients

Ground Tissue
forms most of plants internal and external material
contains all three types of cells
wide range of functions including photosynthesis, storage and support
 some stems, roots and seeds, cells of ground tissue store starch and oils
provides support for plant when it grows between other types of tissue

Vascular Tissue
internal system of tubes that run lengthwise throughout the stem of plant, connecting the roots and leaves
function: transport water and dissolved substances throughout the plant
two types:
xylem: transports water and minerals from roots to leaves
phloem: transports nutrients such as sugars to areas where they are needed for growth and metabolism
(roots and mature leaves to new leaves), or to the roots for storage (leaf to roots)
in non-woody flowering plants vascular tissue is organized into groups called vascular bundles
bundles scattered throughout ground tissue
in woody flowering plants, bundles arranged in concentric rings in the ground tissue near epidermal layer

Xylem
water-conducting tissue of plants
gymnosperms: xylem consists of cells called tracheids (dead cells that taper at the ends and overlap one another)
angiosperms: xylem consists of two types of cells - tracheids and vessel elements (long, continuous tubes formed
from dead, hollow, cylindrical cells arranged end to end)
tracheids and vessel elements begin as living cells growing end to end in an immature stem. When they mature,
their living contents die, leaving non-living cell walls in place
fluids pass from one tracheid or vessel element to the next through pores known as pits

Phloem
food-conducting tissue in vascular plants
two types of phloem cells: sieve tube elements and companion cells
both alive at maturity, unlike xylem cells
sieve tube elements: no nuclei. Have plates at both ends that are perforated with holes
companion cells: have nuclei carry out life functions to maintain both types of cells