Plant Tissues

Rucete ✏ Biology In a Nutshell

1. Ground Tissue

a) Parenchyma Cells

• Function: Photosynthesis, storage, and secretion
• Most common cell type in plants

b) Collenchyma Cells

• Function: Mechanical support
• Flexible and supportive, especially in growing regions

c) Sclerenchyma Cells

• Function: Mechanical support
• Thick, rigid cell walls; often dead at maturity

2. Dermal Tissue

a) Epidermis Cells

• Function: Protection of plant surfaces
• May have specialized structures like cuticles, guard cells, or trichomes

3. Vascular Tissue

a) Xylem

• Function: Conducts water and minerals and provides mechanical support
• Mostly dead at maturity
• Two cell types:
  • Tracheids: Long, tapered cells
  • Vessel Elements: Shorter, wider than tracheids

b) Phloem

• Function: Conducts sugars (products of photosynthesis)
• Cells are alive at maturity
• Two cell types:
  • Sieve-tube members: Conducting cells
  • Companion cells: Assist sieve tubes in function