Vascular plants use specialized tissues called xylem and phloem to efficiently transport water and nutrients, allowing for significant growth in height. In contrast, nonvascular plants rely on diffusion to move water, limiting their size and keeping them close to the ground.

Answer 1

That's correct! Vascular plants, which include ferns, conifers, and flowering plants, have developed a more complex structure that includes xylem and phloem.

• Xylem is responsible for the transport of water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant. It contains specialized cells that provide both water conduction and structural support, allowing vascular plants to grow taller and reach more sunlight.

• Phloem transports the products of photosynthesis, primarily sugars, from the leaves to other parts of the plant where they are needed for energy, growth, and storage.

In contrast, nonvascular plants, such as mosses and liverworts, do not have these specialized tissues. They rely on diffusion to move water and nutrients throughout their bodies. This limits their size, as diffusion is not as efficient over long distances. Consequently, nonvascular plants tend to remain small and are often found in moist environments where water availability is high.

This fundamental difference in their vascular systems not only affects their size and growth patterns but also plays a significant role in their ecological niches and adaptations to different environments.