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A diagrammatic representation of a plant body |
Ferns, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms are all terrestrial plants. In the previous chapter we learnt that cell division is important for growth and reproduction. Tissues therefore arise as a result of a cell or a group of cells dividing, thus giving rise to a large number of cells. In flowering plants these cells undergo changes that change the structure and function of the cell; differentiation has take place. As a result of differentiation, a cell or group of cells can have a specialized function; i.e. specialization takes place.
Thus, a tissue is a group of cells that have differentiated to perform a specific function .
If a group of cells are more or the less the same, then it is known as a Simple tissue e.g. epidermis, parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma. If, however, the tissue is composed of a number of different cells, then it is known as a Complex tissue such as xylem and phloem.
In Angiosperms the most important tissues can be classified as shown below:
Tissues of Flowering Plants |
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Primary Meristems |
Secondary Meristems |
Simple Tissues | Complex Tissues | |