Summary of Plant Tissue
8 Minutes
Plant tissues for students explains meristematic, permanent, simple, and complex plant tissues. A short science lesson in English.
- Apical, intercalary, and lateral meristem tissues in plants
- Permanent tissue and why it stops dividing without a nucleus
- Simple tissue for food storage and xylem and phloem for transport
What this lesson teaches
Plant tissues are organized groups of cells that work together to help a plant grow, maintain its structure, and carry life-supporting materials. All plants begin life through germination, the process where a tiny seed grows into a plant and forms meristematic cells that build every part of the plant body.
Meristematic tissues and their locations
- Meristematic cells are growth cells produced during germination that join together to form meristematic tissue across the entire plant.
- Apical meristem consists of dividing cells located at the very tip of the plant.
- Intercalary meristem is found in the gaps between leaves along the plant stem.
- Lateral meristem changes a skinny plant into a wider and chubbier plant, and it allows trees such as banana trees to sprout again after being cut.
Formation of permanent tissue
Meristematic tissue cannot grow and divide forever, so cells that stop growing turn into permanent tissue. This permanent tissue keeps performing a specific function throughout its entire life and is the main reason a small plant turns into a strong tree. Permanent tissue cells usually lack a nucleus, which is the control center or brain of a cell. Because the nucleus is missing or inactive in these mature cells, they cannot divide any further.
Simple and complex permanent tissues
Permanent tissue in plants is divided into two distinct groups known as simple tissue and complex tissue. Simple tissue has the important duty of holding and storing the food and nutrients that the plant needs. It does not transport these substances, but serves as a storage unit inside the plant body. Complex tissue is responsible for handling internal transportation.
Functions of xylem and phloem
- Complex tissue carries out all internal transport through two specialized types called xylem and phloem.
- Xylem tissue is responsible for taking water and transporting it directly to all parts of the plant.
- Phloem tissue supplies food and nutrients to all parts of the plant.
- These complex tissues work together to ensure that every part of the plant receives the water and nourishment it needs.