Complex Permanent Tissues

Complex Permanent tissues consist of more than one type of cells which have a common origin and which are working together for a common goal as a unit. The main purpose of these complex permanent tissues is the transportation of water and minerals, these tissues are also known as conducting and vascular tissues. It is further divided into two types: 

Xylem

The name comes from the Greek word xylos which means wood. It acts as the chief conducting tissue for the plants. It is responsible for the transportation of water and other inorganic solutes. It is divided into tracheids, vessels, xylem fiber, and xylem parenchyma. They are mostly present vertically but they are even present horizontally.

Characteristics 

• It consists of only living cells.
• It has a cell wall, it is very thin and it is made of cellulosic.
• These cells have a nucleus and protoplast. These cells are colorless and have large vacuoles.
• The nucleus and cytoplasm of xylem tissue migrate into tyloses. Tyloses stores various substances and have a possibility of developing secondary cell walls. The cells which give rise to tyloses are called contact cells.

Functions

• The main purpose of xylem tissue is the storage of food materials like starch, fats, and tannins.
• They are instrumental in the transportation of water.
• When there is a scarcity of water, it helps to reduce damage to the vascular tissues.
• They are responsible for repairing and restoring the vessels whenever there is any blockage or formation of air bubbles.

Phloem

The phloem is used to transport food minerals that are dissolved in water. The phloem transports food and minerals both upwards and downwards. It is divided into a sieve tube, Companion cell, Phloem fiber, and Phloem parenchyma.

Characteristics 

• The cells in the phloem are alive.
• It consists of an elongated, tubular structure.
• The cell walls are very thin.
• Helps in translocation. 
• It consists of a sieve tube, companion cell, phloem fibers, and phloem parenchyma.

Functions 

• Carbohydrates produced during photosynthesis are stored in tubes or bulbs which are made of phloem.
• The phloem transports sap.
• Helps in translocation. 
• They provide mechanical support to the plants.

Plants, just like animals are multicellular eukaryotes. This means that they consist of cells, tissues, and organs each with a special unique function to carry out. A cell is the smallest building block of any organism. A group of cells together forms a tissue, and a group of tissue combine to form an organ. Plants belong to the Plantae kingdom, which consists of all organisms which are not plants including fungi and algae.

The plant tissue system is broadly divided into two types: meristematic tissue and permanent tissue(non-meristematic tissue). The meristematic tissue consists of undifferentiated cells(meristematic cells) capable of cell division. These cells can further develop into other tissues and organs that are found in plants. These cells continue to divide till they lose the ability to divide any further and become differentiated. Differentiated plant cells can not divide any further or produce any more cells. 

Permanent tissue is defined as a group of living or dead cells formed from the meristematic tissue that has now lost the ability to divide and now have become fixed at a place permanently. These plant tissues take up a specific role after they have lost the ability to divide. The process by which they lose their ability to divide and retain a permanent shape and size and perform a specific function is known as cellular differentiation. They are further divided into two types: Simple Permanent Tissue, Complex Permanent Tissue.