The pressure created by water movement into the root xylem is unlikely to move water over significant heights. Plants employ another strategy, possibly involving transpiration and cohesion, to move water upwards in the xylem to the highest points of the ...

Cells in contact with the soil actively take up ions at the roots, creating a concentration difference. Water moves into the root xylem from the soil to eliminate this difference, establishing a steady upward flow.

The vessels and tracheids of the roots, stems, and leaves are interconnected in the xylem tissue, forming a continuous system of water-conducting channels that reach all parts of the plant.

Very tall trees face the challenge of large distances for transport systems. Despite this, plants have independently organized conducting tubes (xylem and phloem) to efficiently move energy stores from leaves and raw materials from roots.