In vascular plants, xylem's one of the two types of transport tissue, phloem being the other. The word "xylem"'s derived from classical Greek ξυλον (xylon), "wood", and indeed the best known xylem tissue's wood, though it's found throughout the plant. Its basic function's to transport water. Physiology of xylem The xylem's responsible for the transport of water and soluble mineral nutrients from the roots throughout the plant. It's also used to replace water lost during… (More on Xylem)