Food, nutrients, water and minerals are transported from leaves to leaves by two types of vascular tissues such as xylem and phloem.
Xylem tissues mainly transport water and minerals to other plant tissues, with the help of wind and veins. These components of Xylem are also known as tracheal elements.
The tracheal and vascular cells die at maturity, their walls become lignified, and they reside in primary as well as secondary xylem. There are important differences between deep veins and veins.
What is Tracheids?
Tracheal tubes are present in the xylem of angiosperms. These are the things that drive. They are also found in gymnosperm ferns. The ends of the alveolar cells are pointed.
As secondary cell walls thicken, the alveoli become heavily lignified and die. Steam plants also provide mechanical support. They can also hold water on gravity due to their high surface area to volume ratio.
What is Vessels?
Veins are only present in angiosperms. They help plants hold water and minerals. After thickening and consolidation of the secondary cell wall, dead and follicular cells are formed. These vessels are free of protozoa when mature.
Difference Between Tracheids And Vessels
| Tracheids | Vessels |
| Presence | |
| In all vascular plants | In angiosperms |
| Type of cells | |
| Imperforated | Perforated |
| Cell wall | |
| Thin | Thick |
| Connection | |
| Lateral | End to end |
| Cross section | |
| Polygonal | Circular |
| Water conduction | |
| Inefficient | Very efficient |
| Lumen | |
| Narrow | Wide |
| Cell length | |
| 1 mm | 10 cm |
| Surface to volume ratio | |
| High | Low |
| End walls | |
| Tapering | Transverse or diagonal |
| Pits | |
| Less large pits | Large small pits |
