The first thing we are going to do in order to know the meaning of the term xylem is to establish its etymological origin. In this sense, we can say that it is a word that derives from Greek, specifically, from the word "xylon", which can be translated as "wood".
The notion of xylem is used in the field of botany to name the woody type tissue that, present in some plants, has the function of transferring minerals and water to different sectors of the organism.
Xylem is a tissue that has a high amount of lignin , a substance that contributes to the thickening of the stem . In the xylem it is possible to recognize different elements, such as the tracheids (a type of cell that conducts raw sap , the name of the fluid that transports the xylem) and the pits (sectors that promote cell communication).
The functions of xylem are conduction and support . As for conduction, this is the most important purpose of this fabric. Its mission is to carry the raw sap from the root to the rest of the plant .
This transfer of substances is carried out in two ways: by suction and by osmosis . Suction is generated when water evaporates and the tissues absorb it from different walls. Given the different cohesive forces that the H2O molecules have, there is a tension that enables movement from the roots to the leaves. Osmosis, on the other hand, allows the movement of water from the roots to the upper sector.
When we talk about xylem, inevitably, we also do the same with phloem. It seems that they are two words that go together and that mentioning one means doing the same with the second.
Specifically, we can emphasize that phloem is a vascular type tissue that is responsible for proceeding, within the field of biology and botany specifically, to convey what are nutrients and sugars. Specifically, they move them from the organs that produce them to those that are responsible for storing and consuming them.
In addition to all of the above, it should be mentioned that Xilema is also the name of a foundation. It is specifically a Spanish non-profit entity that originated in 2012 and is responsible for caring for people who are at risk of social exclusion or who live in situations of maximum vulnerability.
In the north of Spain, exactly in the Navarra area, is where this foundation operates, whose objective is to contribute to achieving a much more humanized and also more supportive society. And it promotes values such as commitment, transparency, equality, trust or even excitement.