PLANTS’ SPECIALIZED STRUCTURES

• Plant organs are made of three tissue systems.

1. Dermal tissue covers the outside of a plant.
– protects the plant
– secretes cuticle of leaves
– forms outer bark of trees

VOCABULARY Made of Epidermis and Cuticle

Histology •Epidermis
•study of animal and plant tissues. - a protective tissue that covers the entire surface of the
plant. The epidermis protects the plant from infection and
Microtome water loss.
• an instrument used to cut tissues into
ultrathin sections. •Cuticle
– the outermost layer of plants, which covers leaves, fruits,
flowers, and non-woody stems of higher plants. It helps to
prevent evaporation from the leaf surface.

2. Ground tissue is found inside a plant.

– provides support
– stores materials in roots and stems.
– most commonly made of parenchyma.

3. Vascular tissue transports water, minerals and organic

Plant Cells and Tissues
compounds.
KEY CONCEPT
– two networks of hollow tubes.
● Plants have specialized cells and tissue systems.
– xylem transports water and minerals.
– phloem transports photosynthetic products.
• Water and dissolved minerals move through xylem.
* Xylem contains specialized cells.
– vessel elements are short and wide
– tracheid cells are long and narrow
– xylem cells die at maturity

• Phloem carries sugars from photosynthesis

throughout the plant.
* Phloem contains specialized cells.
– sieve tube elements have holes at ends.
– companion cells help sieve tube elements.
– unlike xylem, phloem tissue is alive.

• Transpiration is the loss of water vapor through leaves.

– water vapor exits leaf stomata.
– helps pull water to the top branches.

• Roots anchor plants and absorb mineral nutrients from

soil.
• Roots provide many functions.
– support the plant
– absorb, transport, and store nutrients
– root hairs help absorption

•There are several parts of a root.

– root cap covers the tip
– apical meristem is an area of growth
– vascular cylinder contains xylem and phloem.

KEY CONCEPT
● Leaves absorb light and carry out photosynthesis.

• Most leaves share some similar structures.

*The blade is usually broad and flat.
– collects sunlight for photosynthesis.
– connects to the stem by a petiole.

• Guard cells surround each stoma.

– Stomata open and close when guard cells
change shape.
– When stomata are open, water evaporates
and gas exchanges.
– Stomata close at night and when plant loses
too much water.