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xylem
[ zahy-luhm, -lem ]
noun
- a compound tissue in vascular plants that helps provide support and that conducts water and nutrients upward from the roots, consisting of tracheids, vessels, parenchyma cells, and woody fibers.
xylem
/ ˈzaɪləm; -lɛm /
noun
- a plant tissue that conducts water and mineral salts from the roots to all other parts, provides mechanical support, and forms the wood of trees and shrubs. It is of two types (protoxylem and metaxylem), both of which are made up mainly of vessels and tracheids See also protoxylem metaxylem
xylem
/ zī′ləm /
- A tissue in vascular plants that carries water and dissolved minerals from the roots and provides support for softer tissues. Xylem consists of several different types of cells: fibers for support, parenchyma for storage, and tracheary elements for the transport of water. The tracheary elements are arranged as long tubes through which columns of water are raised. In a tree trunk, the innermost part of the wood is dead but structurally strong xylem, while the outer part consists of living xylem, and beyond it, layers of cambium and phloem.
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of xylem1
Compare Meanings
How does xylem compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
This strategy suggests that the negative pressures of xylem sap can exceed one megapascal.
Such a feat seemed so unlikely for the tiny insects that some scientists questioned whether xylem sap truly could be under such negative pressures.
Extra xylem and phloem help the stem pump more food and water into the fruit, leaving less for the rest of the plant.
Xylem, zī′lem, n. the woody part of vegetable tissue—opposed to the phlom, or bast part.
All round the xylem and the phloëm there are many thick-walled cells.
These vessels together with the numerous small thick-walled cells lying between the pitted vessels constitute the xylem.
Just above the xylem there is a group of large and small thin-walled cells.
The larger bundles are normal in every way, while in the smaller ones the xylem elements are considerably reduced.
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