1. The tissue in plants that transports sugars and other organic compounds from the leaves to all other parts of the plant.
Usage: biology term; typically used in botanical and plant science contexts

Examples

• The phloem carries glucose produced during photosynthesis to the roots and stems.
• Unlike xylem, which transports water upward, phloem can move nutrients in both directions.
• Damage to the phloem can prevent a plant from distributing the sugars it needs to grow.
• Scientists studied the phloem tissue to understand how plants distribute energy throughout their bodies.
• The phloem is made up of sieve tubes and companion cells that work together to transport organic matter.