What are the functions of xylem and phloem?
Xylem is woody tissue that carries water and minerals throughout the plant and provides the plant with mechanical support. In leaves, flowers, and stems, xylem is present along with phloem. Phloem is tissue that carries sugars and other nutrients from the leaves to cells for consumption or storage. The hard xylem is usually on the inner side of the plant tissue and the softer phloem is on the outer side where it is crushed and pushed outward as new phloem is formed in the growing process.
