Xylem

Contents

Key Stage 3

Meaning

A magnified image of a plant vein with xylem dyed orange.

The Xylem is a tube used to transport of water in plants.

About the Xylem

The xylem is made of xylem cells which have died to form hollow tubes.

The xylem transports water and minerals absorbed by the roots up to the leaves.

Key Stage 4

Meaning

The Xylem is a tube used to transport of water in plants.

About Xylem

Xylem transports water and minerals absorbed by the roots up to the leaves.

Water is transported along the xylem by a process called transpiration.

The xylem supports the stem of the plant making it harder to bend under its own weight.

The xylem is formed when xylem cells create a chemical called lignin which builds up in a spiral shape around the cell wall. The xylem cells then die to leave behind hollow tubes supported by the spiral of lignin.