The xylem and the phloem make up the vascular tissue of a plant and transports water, sugars, and other important substances around a plant. What is commonly referred to as ‘sap’ is indeed the substances that are being transported around a plant by its xylem and phloem.
The separation between plants that have veins and plants that do not is one of the great divides within the plant kingdom. This separates plants into vascular and non-vascular plants. Most plants have xylem and phloem and are known as vascular plants but some more simple plants, such as mosses and algae, do not have xylem or phloem and are known as non-vascular plants.
Vascular tissue in a celery stalk Phloem and xylem are closely associated and are usually found right next to one another. One xylem and one phloem are known as a ‘vascular bundle’ and most plants have multiple vascular bundles running the length of their leaves, stems, and roots.
Xylem tissue is used mostly for transporting water from roots to stems and leaves but also transports other dissolved compounds. Phloem is responsible for transporting food produced from photosynthesis from leaves to non-photosynthesizing parts of a plant such as roots and stems. Hope this helps! ~ Autumn :)
