Study the diagram given below and then answer the questions that follow:

1. Identify the tissue and give a reason to support your answer.
2. Name the parts labelled 1,2,3 and 4.
3. Where is this tissue likely to be found in the plant?
4. State the function of the parts labelled 1,2,3 and 4.

1. The given diagram is a longitudinal section of a phloem tissue of a plant as the cells exhibit cellular contents.

2. The following parts are labelled:

   • 1 → Sieve cell
   • 2 → Phloem parenchyma cell
   • 3 → Companion cell
   • 4 → Sieve plate

3. This tissue is likely to be found in the stem and leaves as it is the tissue that conducts food, the manufactured food in the leaves needs to be transported to other parts of the plant.

4. The functions of the labelled parts are as follows-

   • 1 → Sieve cell — Assists in transporting food from leaves to storage structures and other plant parts.
   • 2 → Phloem parenchyma cell — Stores fat, starch and other organic food material.
   • 3 → Companion cell — Facilitates the functioning of the cells of sieve tube.
   • 4 → Sieve plate — Dissolved organic solutes and water permeates through these structures as it contains perforations.