xylem

This term describes the specialized conductive tissue that facilitates the unidirectional flow of water and nutrients from the soil to the foliage. It is characterized by its rigidity, as the cell walls are often reinforced with lignin, which provides the necessary structural integrity for plants to grow upright. In botanical terms, this tissue is distinct from phloem, which transports sugars. While xylem is primarily associated with water transport, its dead cells at maturity form the bulk of the wood in gymnosperms and angiosperms, making it the primary component of a tree's trunk.