Cell Specialisation in Plants - Xylem
Biology: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 1.1.20
Xylem Cell
The xylem is specialised to transport water up the stem of a plant and into the leaves.
Open ended cells
- Xylem vessels are made up of a series of connected dead xylem cells.
- The end walls of the dead cells are broken to allow water to move through.
Lignin
- Lignin (a substance) strengthens the cell walls of xylem cells.
Test yourself on Cell Specialisation in Plants - Xylem
Which type of plant cell is dead once fully formed, but still carries out an important job?
Why can water move easily along the length of a xylem vessel?
What would happen to water movement through a xylem vessel if the end walls between the cells stayed solid instead of breaking down?
What would most likely happen to a xylem vessel if its cell walls contained no lignin?
Xylem vessels carry water up the stem and into the leaves. What would most likely happen to a plant's leaves if a xylem vessel became blocked?