Phloem & Xylem

Are Phloem and Xylem Similar? What are the Differences?

Similarities: Phloem and xylem are tissues in a plant that transport food and water. Both are vascular tissues and when they work together to effectively transport food, water and minerals they form a vascular bundle. They each have a tubular shape and are in the roots, stems and leaves of the plant. 

Differences: 

phloem

 

• transports nutrition to storage and growing parts of plant
• has soft wall cells
• bidirectional, meaning moves up OR down plants stem
• elements; companion cells, bast fibers, intermediary cells, sieve tubes
• living tissue

xylem

• transports nutrition to aerial parts of plant
• has hard walled cells 
• unidirectional, moves only up the stem
• elements; tracheids, vessels, xylem parenchyma
• NON living tissue 
• gives mechanical strength to plant because of lignified cells