Plant tissue that transports sugars and other organic compounds from leaves to other parts of the plant. Unlike xylem, phloem consists of living cells and can transport materials in multiple directions.
From Greek 'phloios' meaning bark, coined by Carl Nägeli in 1858. The name refers to the location of phloem in the inner bark of trees, where this sugar-conducting tissue is found.
Phloem is like the plant's food delivery service - while xylem brings up water like a one-way elevator, phloem is more like a subway system that can send sugar-rich 'meals' from the photosynthetic leaves to hungry roots, growing tips, and fruits in any direction needed!
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