Final answer:
Vascular plants are distinguished by their specialized tissues, xylem and phloem, which are crucial for transporting water, minerals, and nutrients throughout the plant, enabling them to grow taller and more complex.
Step-by-step explanation:
Vascular plants possess specialized tissues that are critical for their survival and predominance in terrestrial environments. These tissues are known as the xylem and phloem, which together form the vascular system essential for water and nutrient transport within the plant. The xylem is responsible for the movement of water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant, facilitating upward transport against the force of gravity. This is made possible by the cohesion-tension principle and the water potential gradient. On the other hand, the phloem distributes the sugars, produced during photosynthesis in the leaves, as well as other nutrients, to various parts of the plant where they are needed. This occurs through the process called translocation. Unlike non-vascular plants, such as algae and mosses, the presence of these sophisticated vascular systems allows vascular plants to achieve greater heights and efficient nutrient distribution, thus supporting larger and more complex plant bodies.