Water Flow Through Plants

Question 1

What are phloem tubes made of, what do they do and which way does the flow go?

Answer 1

Phloem tubes are made of columns of living cells with small holes in the ends to allow stuff through. They transport food substances made in the leaves to growing regions and storage organs. The flow goes in both directions.

Question 2

What are xylem tubes, what do they transport and which way does the flow go?

Answer 2

Xylem tubes are made of dead cells joined end to end with no end walls between them and a hole in the middle. They carry water and minerals from the roots to the stem and leaves in the transpiration system. The flow goes in one direction.

Question 3

What is transpiration and what is it caused by?

Answer 3

Transpiration is the loss of water through plants. It is caused by evaporation and diffusion.

Question 4

What does transpiration cause?

Answer 4

A shortage of water for the leaf, so water is transported up the xylem vessels from the roots.