What kind of tissues do plants have?

Plant tissues can be grouped into two categories based on their location in the plant and on the kind of cells they contain. 

Based on location in the plant

There are three types of plant tissues base on location in the plant:

1. Epidermal tissue: Epidermal tissue appears as a single layer of cells covering the outside of a plant like a skin. It regulates most of the interactions between a plant and its environment.  
2. Ground tissue: Ground tissue makes up most of the plant’s interior and facilitates metabolic, storage, and support functions. 
3. Vascular tissues:  Vascular tissue runs through the ground tissue inside the plant and helps transport water, food, and minerals throughout the plant. 

Based on the kind of cells contained

There are two types of plant tissues base on the type of cells they contain:

1. Meristematic tissue: Meristematic tissue is made up of actively dividing cells. They are responsible for the growth in the length and thickness of the plant. There are three types of meristematic tissue: 
1. The apical meristem, which is located at the apical area of the stem and roots, is responsible for increasing the plant’s length or height. 
2. The lateral meristem, which is located at the radial portion of the stems and roots, is responsible for increasing the plant’s width or thickness. 
3. The intercalary meristem is present at the base of the leaves or at the internodes 
2. Permanent tissue: Permanent tissue is made up of living or dead cells that are no longer capable of dividing and are placed permanently at fixed positions in the plant body.  There are 2 major types of permanent tissue – simple and complex: 
1. Simple permanent tissue: Simple permanent tissues may be further categorized into 3 types - parenchyma, which helps in photosynthesis and buoyancy; collenchyma, which offers flexibility and mechanical support; and sclerenchyma, which provides plants with strength. 
2. Complex permanent tissue: Complex permanent tissues may be further categorized into 2 types – xylem, which helps transport water and dissolved substances throughout the plant; and phloem, which helps transport food throughout the plant.