PLANT TISSUES
As same in animals, plant cells are grouped into tissues with characteristics functions such as photosynthesis,
transport etc. There are two major categories of tissues in plants i.e. Meristematic tissues and permanent tissues.
1. MERISTEMATIC TISSUE
These tissues are composed of cells, which have the ability to divide. The cells are thin-
walled, have a large nucleus and number of small vacuoles. Usually, they do not have
intercellular spaces, so the cells are arranged compactly.
Types of Meristematic Tissue:
(i) Apical Meristems: Present at the apex of roots and stems. Responsible for the
increase in length of the plant body. This type of growth is called primary growth.
(ii) Lateral Meristems: Located on the lateral sides of roots and shoots. Responsible for
the increase in girth of plant parts. This growth is called secondary growth.
2. PERMANENT TISSUES
Permanent tissues originate from meristematic tissue. The cells of permanent tissues do
not have the ability to divide and may have intercellular spaces between them. They are Apical meristem at root tip,
vascular and cork cambium
classified into two types:
(a) Simple Permanent Tissue
(b) Compound or Complex Permanent Tissue
A. Simple Permanent Tissue
Simple permanent tissue are made up of only one type of cell.
(i) Epidermal Tissue:
Composed of a single layer of cells that cover the plant body. They act as a barrier between the environment and
internal plant tissues. In roots, they help in absorption of water and minerals. In stems and leaves, they secrete
cutin (a waxy coating called cuticle) which prevents evaporation. Some epidermal cells form structures like root
hairs and stomata.
(ii) Parenchyma cells:
Ground tissues are made up of parenchyma cells. These are the most abundant plant cells. They have thin primary
cell walls and large vacuoles for food and water storage. In leaves, they are called mesophyll cells and perform
photosynthesis.
Most parenchyma cells can develop the ability to divide and differentiate into other types of cells and they do
so during the process of repairing an injury.
(iii) Collenchyma Tissue:
They are Found in cortex( beneath epidermis) of young stems and in midribs of leaves leaves and in petals of
flowers with unevenly thickened primary cell walls. These cells are flexible and function to support the organs in
which they are found ( mechanical support).
(iv) Sclerenchyma Tissue:
Composed of dead cells with thick, lignified secondary cell walls. Provides strength and rigidity to the plant. Found
in stems and wood.
B. COMPOUND (COMPLEX) PERMANENT TISSUES
A plant tissue Composed of more
than one
together as
PERMANENT TISSUE type of cell, working
a unit is called a complex or
compound tissue. Found only in
vascular plants. Examples include:
(i) Xylem Tissue: Responsible for the transport of water and dissolved minerals from roots to other parts of the
As same in animals, plant cells are grouped into tissues with characteristics functions such as photosynthesis,
transport etc. There are two major categories of tissues in plants i.e. Meristematic tissues and permanent tissues.
1. MERISTEMATIC TISSUE
These tissues are composed of cells, which have the ability to divide. The cells are thin-
walled, have a large nucleus and number of small vacuoles. Usually, they do not have
intercellular spaces, so the cells are arranged compactly.
Types of Meristematic Tissue:
(i) Apical Meristems: Present at the apex of roots and stems. Responsible for the
increase in length of the plant body. This type of growth is called primary growth.
(ii) Lateral Meristems: Located on the lateral sides of roots and shoots. Responsible for
the increase in girth of plant parts. This growth is called secondary growth.
2. PERMANENT TISSUES
Permanent tissues originate from meristematic tissue. The cells of permanent tissues do
not have the ability to divide and may have intercellular spaces between them. They are Apical meristem at root tip,
vascular and cork cambium
classified into two types:
(a) Simple Permanent Tissue
(b) Compound or Complex Permanent Tissue
A. Simple Permanent Tissue
Simple permanent tissue are made up of only one type of cell.
(i) Epidermal Tissue:
Composed of a single layer of cells that cover the plant body. They act as a barrier between the environment and
internal plant tissues. In roots, they help in absorption of water and minerals. In stems and leaves, they secrete
cutin (a waxy coating called cuticle) which prevents evaporation. Some epidermal cells form structures like root
hairs and stomata.
(ii) Parenchyma cells:
Ground tissues are made up of parenchyma cells. These are the most abundant plant cells. They have thin primary
cell walls and large vacuoles for food and water storage. In leaves, they are called mesophyll cells and perform
photosynthesis.
Most parenchyma cells can develop the ability to divide and differentiate into other types of cells and they do
so during the process of repairing an injury.
(iii) Collenchyma Tissue:
They are Found in cortex( beneath epidermis) of young stems and in midribs of leaves leaves and in petals of
flowers with unevenly thickened primary cell walls. These cells are flexible and function to support the organs in
which they are found ( mechanical support).
(iv) Sclerenchyma Tissue:
Composed of dead cells with thick, lignified secondary cell walls. Provides strength and rigidity to the plant. Found
in stems and wood.
B. COMPOUND (COMPLEX) PERMANENT TISSUES
A plant tissue Composed of more
than one
together as
PERMANENT TISSUE type of cell, working
a unit is called a complex or
compound tissue. Found only in
vascular plants. Examples include:
(i) Xylem Tissue: Responsible for the transport of water and dissolved minerals from roots to other parts of the
