Final answer:
The xylem of plants contains long tubes called vessels, which are composed of individual dead cells named vessel elements. These elements have thinner walls, are connected by perforation plates, and work together to efficiently transport water throughout the plant.
Step-by-step explanation:
The xylem of plants contains long tubes known for their role in transporting water and dissolved minerals from roots to the rest of the plant. These tubes are composed of individual cells called vessel elements. Vessel elements are characterized by thinner walls and are typically shorter than tracheids. These cells are dead at maturity, and they lack end walls, which allows for the efficient movement of water.
Vessel elements are connected end to end, and the end walls where they meet are known as perforation plates. Water moves through these perforation plates to travel up the plant. In comparison to tracheids, which are another type of xylem cell for water conduction, vessel elements have larger diameters and are stacked on top of each other to form a vessel. Tracheids, on the other hand, have thick secondary cell walls that are lignified and allow water to move through side wall regions known as pits.