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/