What Are the Different Types of Plant Tissues?
There are three types of simple tissues in plants: Parenchyma, sclerenchyma, and collenchyma.
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Transcript
Plants are more complex than they might appear. The various parts of plants are composed of specialized cells and tissues that work together to carry out the plant’s life functions.
The cells of plants group together to form tissues. Simple tissues are composed of a single type of cell. Complex tissues are composed of two or more cell types.
There are three main types of simple tissues.
Parenchyma tissue is found throughout the plant, especially the root and stems. The leaf cells that carry out photosynthesis are parenchyma cells.
Collenchyma tissue usually occurs as strands or cylinders of cells in stems and leaves. Collenchyma cells have thick cell walls that provide support to these plant structures. The strands of tissue in celery are collenchyma tissues.
Sclerenchyma tissue is found throughout the plant. Sclerenchyma cells have thick cell walls that may contain the substance lignin. This gives the walls a great deal of strength.
Complex plant tissues include the dermal and vascular tissues. Dermal tissues include the epidermis, the outermost layer of cells on the plant body.
The epidermis of leaves has small openings called stomata that allow gas exchange. Each is opened and closed by two specialized cells called guard cells.
Vascular tissue is similar to our circulatory system and is responsible for the transport of fluids and nutrients throughout the plant.
The vascular system is organized in long strands called vascular bundles composed of two types of tissues: xylem and phloem.
The xylem transports water throughout the plant. The elongated cells found in xylem tissue are called tracheid cells.
The phloem transports nutrients--especially sugars--throughout the plant. The cells in the phloem that transport sugars are called sieve elements.
A diversity of cells comprise any one plant. From a simple sprout to the largest tree, every plant is composed of many cell types acting together.
The cells of plants group together to form tissues. Simple tissues are composed of a single type of cell. Complex tissues are composed of two or more cell types.
There are three main types of simple tissues.
Parenchyma tissue is found throughout the plant, especially the root and stems. The leaf cells that carry out photosynthesis are parenchyma cells.
Collenchyma tissue usually occurs as strands or cylinders of cells in stems and leaves. Collenchyma cells have thick cell walls that provide support to these plant structures. The strands of tissue in celery are collenchyma tissues.
Sclerenchyma tissue is found throughout the plant. Sclerenchyma cells have thick cell walls that may contain the substance lignin. This gives the walls a great deal of strength.
Complex plant tissues include the dermal and vascular tissues. Dermal tissues include the epidermis, the outermost layer of cells on the plant body.
The epidermis of leaves has small openings called stomata that allow gas exchange. Each is opened and closed by two specialized cells called guard cells.
Vascular tissue is similar to our circulatory system and is responsible for the transport of fluids and nutrients throughout the plant.
The vascular system is organized in long strands called vascular bundles composed of two types of tissues: xylem and phloem.
The xylem transports water throughout the plant. The elongated cells found in xylem tissue are called tracheid cells.
The phloem transports nutrients--especially sugars--throughout the plant. The cells in the phloem that transport sugars are called sieve elements.
A diversity of cells comprise any one plant. From a simple sprout to the largest tree, every plant is composed of many cell types acting together.