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The cells of plants are quite different from the cells of most other organisms. Their distinctive features are:- A large vacuole (enclosed by a membrane, the tonoplast), which maintains cell turgor;
- A cell wall made up of cellulose and protein, and in many cases lignin, and deposited by the protoplast on the outside of the cell membrane;
- plastids, especially chloroplasts that contain chlorophyll, the pigment that gives plants their green color.
Like other eukaryotic cells, plant cells typically also have a nucleus, containing most of the cell's DNA, and mitochondria, the 'power plants' of the cell.
Types of Plant Cell
- Parenchyma ~ ground tissues
- Chlorenchyma ~ photosynthesis
- Collenchyma ~ support
- Sclerenchyma ~ fibers
- Epidermal ~ surface covering
- Stomata ~ contrivances on the epidermal of leaves
- Cork
- Tracheid ~ support
- XylemIn vascular plants, xylem is the tissue that carries water up the root and stem. In trees, it constitutes wood — hence the word is derived from Greek ξύλον xúlon "wood, timber". Together with phloem, xylem is one and PhloemIn vascular plants, phloem is the tissue that carries organic nutrients, particularly sucrose. In trees, the phloem is part of the bark, hence the name, derived from the Greek word for "bark". See also xylem. Phloem sap moves from sugar source''s to sugar ~ conducting vessel elements
- Meristematic ~ actively dividing cells
Plant physiologyIn botany, plant physiology is the study of the function, or physiology of plants. Fundamental processes such as photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration are studied by plant physiologists. It is closely related to biochemistry and molecular biology.
