GLOSSARY - PLANT TISSUE

Collenchyma Tissue composed of cells with unevenly thickened

walls.
Cuticle Waxy, waterproof substance produced by epidermal
cells of leaves, shoots, and other above-ground parts
of plants; prevents damage and loss of water by
evaporation.
Differentiated cells Modifications of new cells to form tissues or organs
with a specific function.
Endodermis A portion of ground tissue that is the inner most layer
of a cortex and has a casparian strip in its anticlinal cell
walls.
Epidermis In animals, outer layer of skin that consists mainly of
epithelial cells and lacks nerve endings and blood
vessels; in plants, outer layer of dermal tissue.
Guard cells Bean-shaped sclerenchyma cells in the epidermis;
swell and shrink by osmosis to open and close
stomata. Stomata (singular stoma) are tiny pores in the
epidermis of a plant leaf that controls transpiration and
gas exchange with the air.
Meristem Undifferentiated tissue from which new cells are
formed, as at the tip of a stem or root.
Parenchyma The primary tissue of higher plants composed to thin-
walled cells that remain capable of cell division even
when mature, constitutes the greater part of leaves,
roots, the pulp of fruits, and the pith of stems.
Phloem is vascular tissue that transports food (sugar dissolved
in water) from photosynthetic cells to other parts of the
plant for growth or storage. This type of tissue consists
of living cells that are separated by end walls with tiny
perforations, or holes.
Root hair Epidermal cell extensions of young root that increase
absorptive surface area
Sclerenchyma Tissue composed of thick-walled cells containing lignin
for strength and support
Sieve element Cell in the phloem tissue concerned with longitudinal
conduction of food materials. In flowering plants, it is
called a sieve-tube element
Sieve tube A series of sieve-tube elements arranged end to end
and interconnected through sieve plates.
Tracheid Long tubular cell peculiar to xylem
Undifferentiated cells In a state of cell development characterised by
isodiametric cell shape, very little or no vacuole, a
large nucleus.
Vascular tissue Tissue that conducts water and nutrients through the
plant body in higher plants
Xylem It is vascular tissue that transports water and dissolved
minerals from roots to stems and leaves. This type of
tissue consists of dead cells that lack end walls
between adjacent cells. The side walls are thick and
reinforced with lignin, which makes them stiff and water
proof.

Compiled by Subject Advisors - FSDoE

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Meristematic PLANT TISSUES Mature cells
Cells capable of cell
incapable of cell
division and growth
division

Simple Complex
Parenchyma Tissues Tissues composed of
Epidermal composed of more than one
identical cells different type of cell

Structure:
These cells are as long
as they are wide – i.e.
Structure isodiametric Sclerenchyma Xylem Phloem
Usually a thin single layer The cells have thin Collenchyma Functions Functions
of transparent brick shaped cellulose walls and are Transport of
cells to allow light to pass living
through quick and easily to
water and
The cells have large ions, Transport of
the photosynthesising cells
vacuoles filled with cell strengthening, manufactured food
below.
Cells are tightly packed sap. support
with no intercellular spaces Cells have intercellular Structure: Structure:
Living cells (nucleus and Evenly thickened
forms a protective barrier air spaces.
cytoplasm present). secondary walls with large
against mechanical injury Sometimes parenchyma
Primary cell wall deposits of lignin which is
and invasion of bacteria cells contain chlorophyll
thickened at the corners a woody substance –
and viruses. and thus can
with extra deposits of lignin is responsible for its
The cells contain no photosynthesise and are cellulose. (Provides extra hardness and therefore
chloroplasts, except in
called chlorenchyma. mechanical strength) protective and
some shade plants and in
Elongated, tightly packed strengthening function.
guard cells that surround
stomata thus they cannot
Functions cells. Cell contents are lost i.e.
Serves as packaging or No intercellular air no nucleus nor cytoplasm.
photosynthesise.
filling tissue spaces. Cells are non-living.
A waxy cuticle surrounds
Storage tissue – in the Cells can contain In these lignified walls are
epidermal cells of most
large vacuoles, sugars can chloroplasts. pit canals that serve as
leaves and herbaceous
be stored. channels between cells.
stems reduces water loss Vessels
Most times the vacuole is Functions Small lumen (space)
through evaporation
turgid (full of water) and Strengthening and present.
(transpiration).
thus provides support for
Sieve tubes
support in stems, petioles
Functions the cells and thus for the Functions Tracheids
and leaves.
Protection whole plant. If cells contain chloroplast, Strengthening and Companion cells
water absorption In chlorenchyma cells they can photosynthesise. protecting the structures in
gaseous exchange photosynthesis occurs. which they are found.