Why do plants need a specialized transportation system for water and minerals?
Because diffusion alone is insufficient for large distances in tall plants
Diffusion, the passive movement of substances from a region of higher to lower concentration, works only over very short distances.
Tall plants must move water and minerals from the roots all the way to the leaves, which is many metres, and diffusion alone is far too slow for that.
So plants develop xylem and phloem, specialised conducting tissues, to carry water, minerals and food quickly over long distances.
Hence, the answer is Because diffusion alone is insufficient for large distances in tall plants.
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Important Questions from Botany
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