Xylem is a complex tissue found in the vascular tissue system of land plants. It is used to transport water and minerals through plant cells. Xylem is made of three types of cells: water-conducting cells, parenchyma cells, and sclerenchyma fibers. The water-conducting cells are exclusively found in xylem tissue.
Xylem begins as primary xylem while its region of the shoot is still developing. As the shoot begins to mature, the protoxylem matures into metaxylem. Ultimately, the protoxylem will die off, maturing into either kind of water-conducting cell or the sclerenchyma fiber.