Plant Transportation

A closer look at xylem and phloem

Vascular Plants
Vascular plants, like celery, have a specialized
system for transporting water and nutrients through
their systems.
The stem of a plant has two main highways of
transportation: xylem and phloem.

How does a plant transport

food, water and nutrients?
Xylem
The plant cells that
move water and
nutrients from the
roots to the leaves.

Phloem

The plant cells that

move food from the
leaves to the rest of
the plant.

Xylem is in the center.

Phloem is on the outer edge.
Phloem

Xylem

Another Look
Here you see a longitudinal
view of the xylem in celery.

Xylem

Xylem

More views

More views
Xylem

More views
Xylem

More views

Xylem

Phloem

More views

How does it
work?
1. Water is collected by the
roots, but how does it get
up to the leaves where it is
needed?

Transpiration

Sun/
Energy source

4.

2.

3.

2. As the plant receives

sunlight, water in the plant
is evaporated and escapes
the plant.
3. The plant must replace
the water. The water that is
evaporating at the top
creates suction that helps
water from the roots climb
to the leaves through the
xylem.
4. Water passes from cell
to cell until it gets to where
it is needed.

H20

cross section
view

1.
H20

More models of
transpiration

More models of
transpiration

More models of
transpiration

More models of
transpiration

Helpful Links
http://www.slideshare.net/scuffruff/xylem-andphloem
http://hiddenvillaclassroom.org/curriculum/curri
culum-for-your-school-garden/fifth-grade/coloredcarnations-and-celery
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4rzLhz4HH
k&feature=related
http://beckyboop.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/pla
nt-transpiration-lesson-plan/