sieve tube

noun

Botany.

1. a vertical series of sieve cells in the phloem, specialized for the conduction of food materials.

2. a single sieve cell.

sieve tube

noun

1. botany an element of phloem tissue consisting of a longitudinal row of thin-walled elongated cells with perforations in their connecting walls through which food materials pass

Word History and Origins

Origin of sieve tube¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Annular vessel; 2. spiral vessel; 3. pitted vessel; 4. phloëm or sieve tubes; 5. sclerenchyma.

From Project Gutenberg

The wood is distinguished by the presence of vessels with close, spiral or ring-shaped thickenings, while in the phloem are found sieve tubes, not unlike those in the ferns.

From Project Gutenberg

This is the phloëm and it consists of sieve tubes and thin-walled cells.

From Project Gutenberg

Annular vessel; 2. spiral vessel; 3. pitted vessel; 4. sieve tubes or phloëm; 5. sclerenchyma.

From Project Gutenberg

The rest of the bundle is made up of nearly uniform, rather thin-walled, colorless cells, some of which, however, are larger, and have perforated cross-walls, representing the sieve tubes of  the fern bundle.

From Project Gutenberg