Trachieds

What Does Trachieds Mean?

Located in the xylem of vascular plants, tracheids consist of elongated cells that carry mineral salts and water throughout the plants. Unlike vessel elements, tracheids are devoid of perforation plates. Tracheary elements can help differentiate between non-vascular and vascular plants. In softwoods, tracheids offer much of the plant’s structural support.

Maximum Yield Explains Trachieds

As a result of their lignified walls, tracheids provide excellent mechanical support to the plant and are very well-structured to distribute water and solutes throughout the roots, stem, and leaves.

It should be noted that tracheids only become functional when they are empty and dead. In angiosperms, flowering plants feature an efficient and specialized water transporting system that evolves from the tracheid.

Unlike vessel elements, tracheids tend to have a more consistent surface to volume ratio. To counteract a lack of transpiration, the tracheids can retain water against gravity to protect the plants from air embolisms.