The upcoming discussion will update you about the differences between Xylem and Phloem.
Difference # Xylem:
1. It conducts water or sap.
2. Xylem also provides mechanical strength.
3. Xylem is usually found deep in the plant.
4. In older plants, xylem often constitutes bulk of the plant body.
5. The conducting or tracheary cells are dead.
6. Xylem is made up of three types of dead cells (vessels, tracheids, xylem fibres).
7. There are one type of living cells (xylem parenchyma).
8. The conducting cells have lignin thickening in the wall.
9. Conducting elements are of two types, vessels and tracheids.
10. Tracheary elements have different types of wall thickenings.
11. Vessels are devoid of septa.
Difference # Phloem:
1. Phloem conducts organic food.
2. Phloem has no mechanical function.
3. Phloem is usually situated towards the outer side of the plant.
4. Phloem always forms a small part of the plant body.
5. The conducting cells are living.
6. Phloem contains only one type of dead cells (phloem fibres).
7. There are three types of living cells (sieve tube cells, companion cells and phloem parenchyma).
8. Wall of the sieve tube does not possess lignin.
9. Conducting elements are of one type, sieve tubes.
10. Wall thickenings are absent in the conducting channels.
11. Sieve tubes have bulging and porous septa.