Phloem facts for kids

Phloem is a special part of vascular plants, like a tiny network of tubes inside them. Think of it like the plant's own delivery system! These tubes carry a sugary liquid called sap to all parts of the plant. This sap has sugar and other important nutrients that the plant needs to grow and stay healthy.

The sugar in the sap is made by the plant during a process called photosynthesis. This is how plants make their own food using sunlight. In big plants like trees, the phloem is found just inside the bark. The word "phloem" even comes from a Greek word, phloios, which means "bark"!

What Phloem Does

Phloem's main job is to move food (sugars) from where it's made (usually the leaves) to where it's needed. This could be to growing parts like new leaves or flowers, or to storage areas like roots or fruits. It's like a one-way street for food, making sure every part of the plant gets what it needs to thrive.

Phloem and Plant Pests

Some tiny insects, like Aphids (also known as greenfly), love to feed on the sweet sap inside the phloem. They have a special, super-thin straw-like mouthpart that they push into the plant to reach the phloem tubes. Because the sap in the phloem is under high pressure, it gets pushed right into the insect!

When aphids eat too much sap, they often produce a sticky, sugary liquid called "honeydew." This honeydew can drip onto leaves or other surfaces, making them sticky. Sometimes, a black fungus can even grow on this sticky honeydew, making the plant look dirty.

Phloem's Partner: Xylem

While phloem moves food, another important plant tissue called xylem moves water. Water is absorbed by the plant's roots and then travels up through the xylem tubes to the stem and leaves. This water is super important for photosynthesis and for keeping the plant firm.

So, phloem and xylem work together like a team. Xylem brings water up, and phloem sends food down (or to other parts). They are both vital for a plant's survival, much like blood vessels are important for animals.

Images for kids

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  Stripping the inner bark from a pine branch

See also

In Spanish: Floema para niños