Question

Presence of vessels in the xylem is

• A. A primitive character
• B. An advanced character
• C. A vestigial character
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is B An advanced character

Xylem is one of the two transport tissues present in the plants. The xylem which is made up of tracheids, vessels, parenchyma and fibers are responsible for transporting water and soluble minerals from the roots to the various parts of the plants. This also functions to provide the water lost during transpiration and photosynthesis. These are made of long straight chain of tough long cells known as vessel elements. While xylem appeared early in the terrestrial plant life, presence of vessels is an advanced character as it first presence is recorded during the late Permian period in the horsetails, ferns and Selaginellas, and later during the mid Cretaceous period in angiosperms and gnetophytes.

Therefore, the correct answer is option B.