The Xylem of a plant is the system of tubes that helps to transport water and minerals throughout the plant. They help connect roots to the leaves. One could say that they are comparable to blood vessels in an animal. They also help to provide support for the plant. They are replaced annually. When you count the rings of a downed tree to figure out its age, you are actually counting layers of xylem.
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| You can see the rings formed by Xylem in this picture of part of a log. |
The other component of circulation through plants is the phloem. The phloem helps to distribute sugars (product of photosynthesis) to the rest of the plant. Unlike xylem, the phloem is alive for the plant's entire life; it is not replaced annually. When you see sap dripping from a tree, it usually is from the phloem.
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| Traditionally, maple syrup is made by boiling large amounts of sap from sugar maple trees. In modern times, however, many commercial brands of "maple" syrup rely on chemicals to produce their taste and actually contain no maple. You can still find 100% natural maple syrup, but it's not as common on grocery store shelves. |
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