IGCSE Biology - Plant Transport Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to plant transport in IGCSE Biology.

Xylem tubes

Long hollow tubes made of dead empty cells, lined with lignin used for transport of water and mineral salts in plants and for support of the plant

Phloem tubes

Long tubes made of living cells with perforated end walls which transport dissolved sucrose and other substances in plants

Stomata

A gap between 2 guard cells usually in the lower epidermis of the leaf

Transpiration

The evaporation of water at the surface of the mesophyll cells followed by loss of water vapour from plant leaves through the stomata

Transpiration stream

The pathway of water from the root hairs of a plant, up the root and stem and out of the leaves into the atmosphere

Cohesion

The tendency of water molecules to stick together

Vascular bundles

Position of xylem and phloem in roots stems and leaves

Root hair cells

Epidermal cells with long extensions. Plants take in water from the soil through their root hair cells by osmosis

Transpiration pull

As water evaporates from the surfaces of the mesophyll cells in the leaves, or is used by the leaf cells, the pressure at the top of the xylem vessels drops

Translocation

The movement of sucrose and amino acids in the phloem, from regions of production (source) to regions of storage or use (sink).

Source (in translocation)

The part of the plant from which sucrose and amino acids are being translocated

Sink (in translocation)

The part of the plant to which sucrose and amino acids are being translocated