Vessel elements

Definition

Vessel elements are elongated, tubular cells in the xylem that facilitate water transport from roots to leaves. They align end-to-end to form continuous vessels for efficient water conduction.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Vessel elements have perforation plates at their ends, allowing free passage of water between cells.
2. They are a characteristic feature of angiosperms and are less common in gymnosperms.
3. Vessel elements provide structural support due to their lignified cell walls.
4. These cells die at maturity, leaving behind a hollow tube for water movement.
5. The efficiency of vessel elements in water transport makes them crucial for plant growth and survival.

Review Questions

• What structural feature of vessel elements allows for the efficient passage of water?
• In which group of plants are vessel elements most commonly found?
• Why do vessel elements die at maturity, and how does this benefit their function?

Related terms

Tracheids: Elongated cells in the xylem that also aid in water transport but lack perforation plates and are found in both gymnosperms and angiosperms

Xylem: Vascular tissue responsible for the conduction of water and nutrients from roots to other parts of the plant

Lignin: A complex organic polymer deposited in the cell walls of many plants, making them rigid and woody