I keep getting “Xylem and phloem” questions wrong in Anatomy of Flowering Plants. What's the trap?
thinking both tissues move water.
The usual trap: thinking both tissues move water. How to avoid it: xylem = water up (dead cells); phloem = food around (living cells). Go back to the definition — xylem carries water and minerals upward (its conducting cells are dead), while phloem carries food both ways (its cells are living).
Key point
Xylem and phloem
Common mistake
thinking both tissues move water.
Memory tip
xylem = water up (dead cells); phloem = food around (living cells).
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