WHAT ARE THE
DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN VASCULAR
AND NONVASCULAR PLANTS?
Let’s take a closer look.
What makes them different on the
outside and inside?
Learning Intentions
Success Criteria
 To understand how vascular
 I can explain how the root and
plant cells are specialized and
organized for the intake,
movement and loss of water
from a plant
shoot systems are effective in
transporting water through a
plant
 I can explain the structural and
functional differences between
xylem and phloem
 I know the difference between
vascular and non-vascular plants
Take a close look….
SEE IF YOU CAN OBSERVE THE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE
TWO PLANTS…
Vascular
Non Vascular
Vascular
Non Vascular
Vascular
Non Vascular
Vascular
Non Vascular
Vascular
Non Vascular
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?
Vascular Plants
Non Vascular Plants
 Has roots
 No roots
 Has stems
 No stems
 Has leaves
 No leaves
 Has vascular bundles
 No vascular bundles
 Can transport water
 Are unable to transport water
 Larger in size
 Smaller in size
 Is better able to store water in
 Must live in damp conditions
cells
Think about the largest tree you have ever seen.
How do you think the tree moves water and food through that very tall trunk?
 A tree is an example of a vascular plant. They have a system of tissues
within them that carry water and food throughout the plant. These
tissues are found in the roots, stems, and leaves of the plant.
 Vascular tissue ensures that each organ – the leaves, stems, roots,
flowers and seeds –receive what they need. The organs are grouped as
systems. Plants have two systems:
 Shoot system: all parts of the plant found above ground – responsible for
transportation, absorption, reproduction and photosynthesis
 Root system: all parts of the plant found below ground – responsible for absorbing
water and nutrients from the soil
VASCULAR TISSUE
 The vascular tissues are divided into two types based on what they transport.
 The phloem are vessels on the outer layer of the stem that transport food
materials such as sugars from the leaves, where they are produced, or from storage
tissues, to the rest of the plant. If a tree is cut, you can often see sap seep out of the
tree, and this is the contents of the phloem. If you have ever had maple syrup, it is the
processed form of the sap that is found in the phloem of maple trees.
 The second type of vascular vessel is the xylem; these are the vessels that transport
water throughout the plant. The xylem vessels carry water from the roots up the
plant and to the leaves.
 Not only do vascular tissues help plants move water and food more efficiently
throughout the plant, they also make it possible for the plant to grow larger. By
having these vessels, plants can move necessary supplies farther and therefore
grow larger. These vascular vessels are similar to the closed circulatory system
of humans, because both systems transport nutrients and allow the organisms
to grow larger due to the ability to transport farther.
XYLEM
See figure 3.6 pg.72
 Water enters the roots by the process of osmosis. Dissolved ions enter via
diffusion and active transport.
 Xylem is made up of two types of cells: tracheids and vessel elements.
 Water exits the xylem vessels via stomata – small holes on the surface of the
leaves
 Water is evaporated off the surface of the leaves through the process
transpiration (like perspiration), this drives the constant upward movement of
water
 Water is continually being sucked from the roots and transported to the leaves
– this is called the transpiration stream. This process, where the water is
pulled up vertically through the xylem, is called transpirational pull.
 Water particles are adhesive (stick to the xylem vessel) and cohesive (stick
together) so if some move, they all move. This allows water to reach the leaves
at the top of a very tall tree.
STOMATA
 The carbon dioxide that plants need to photosynthesise enters through
the stomata (singular stoma). This is the site of gas exchange. It is also
where water exits.
 Why are most stomata found on the lower surface of the leaves?
 Stomata are surrounded by two guard cells.
 A stoma is open when guard cells are turgid and closes when these cells are
flaccid
 Read page 73 and determine what causes stomata to close.
PHLOEM
 The movement of organic materials (sugars) around the plant is called
translocation
 Not all cells are capable of photosynthesis as then do not all contain
chloroplasts – however all plant cells require glucose for cellular
respiration
 The product of photosynthesis is glucose, however it is converted to
sucrose for transport and starch for storage.
 Sucrose requires active transport from the phloem into cells.
 During the day a plant both photosynthesises and respires
 During the night they can only respire as they do not have access to
sunlight to photosynthesise
a) Loss of water from xylem
through transpiration and
use in metabolism pulls
water through xylem vessels
b) Sugars are pushed down
the phloem. Sugar moves
from a region of high
pressure near its site of
production to regions of
low pressure where sugars
are used.
STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN XYLEM AND PHLOEM
 Xylem is a dead tissue (the cells have lost the nucleus, organelles and
cytoplasm), while phloem is alive (some cells remain fully functional).
 Xylem transports water and dissolved minerals around the plant (from
roots to leaves). Phloem conducts dissolved sugar around the plant from
where it is made to where it is needed.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE:
1.
Which vessel is damaged in the process of ringbarking and why does
this lead to the death of a plant?
2.
How is water transported around a plant?
3.
How are sugars transported around a plant?
4.
How are the xylem and phloem arranged in plant roots?
5.
Explain how a plant increases its surface area for water absorption.
HOMEWORK:
 Plant tissues worksheet