Plant Cell Types
Ground Tissue Cells
- It makes up the majority of the herbaceous plant
Consists of:
- Parenchyma
- Collenchyma
- Sclerenchyma
Parenchyma
- Most abundant
- Alive at maturity
- Thin primary cell walls
- Has the ability to divide (response to injury or changing environment)
Functions: photosynthesis, respiration, gas exchange, storage of starch and other
materials
Collenchyma
- Elongated living cells
- Unevenly thickened primary cell walls
Function: elastic support
Sclerenchyma
- Inelastic support to non-growing plant parts
- Dead at maturity
- Thick, rigid secondary cell walls
- Lignin - though, complex molecule that adds strength to cell walls
Function: mechanical support and strength to the plants
Conducting Cells in Xylem and Phloem
Vascular Tissue Cells
- Transport water, minerals, carbohydrates, and other dissolved compounds
throughout the plant
, Xylem
Tracheids
- Long, narrow cells that overlap at their tapered ends
- Water moves from tracheid to tracheid through pits
- Pits - thin areas of the cell wall
Vessel Elements
- Short, wide, barrel-shaped
- Stack end-to-end, forming long, continuous tubes
- Side walls - have pits
- End walls- perforated or absent
- Water movement is faster than tracheids
Ground Tissue Cells
- It makes up the majority of the herbaceous plant
Consists of:
- Parenchyma
- Collenchyma
- Sclerenchyma
Parenchyma
- Most abundant
- Alive at maturity
- Thin primary cell walls
- Has the ability to divide (response to injury or changing environment)
Functions: photosynthesis, respiration, gas exchange, storage of starch and other
materials
Collenchyma
- Elongated living cells
- Unevenly thickened primary cell walls
Function: elastic support
Sclerenchyma
- Inelastic support to non-growing plant parts
- Dead at maturity
- Thick, rigid secondary cell walls
- Lignin - though, complex molecule that adds strength to cell walls
Function: mechanical support and strength to the plants
Conducting Cells in Xylem and Phloem
Vascular Tissue Cells
- Transport water, minerals, carbohydrates, and other dissolved compounds
throughout the plant
, Xylem
Tracheids
- Long, narrow cells that overlap at their tapered ends
- Water moves from tracheid to tracheid through pits
- Pits - thin areas of the cell wall
Vessel Elements
- Short, wide, barrel-shaped
- Stack end-to-end, forming long, continuous tubes
- Side walls - have pits
- End walls- perforated or absent
- Water movement is faster than tracheids
