Xylem is the dead, permanent tissue that carries water and minerals from roots to all other parts of the plant. The term ‘xylem’ is derived from the Greek word ‘xylon’, meaning wood. Phloem, on the other hand, is the living, permanent tissue that carries food and other organic nutrients from leaves to all other parts of the plant. The word ‘phloem’ is obtained from the Greek word ‘phloios’, meaning ‘bark’. Together, these two make up the vascular tissues in plants, forming the vascular bundle. Most plants have multiple vascular bundles that form a connection between its different parts, including leaves, stems, and roots.
