No, not all plants have phloem.
Here's a breakdown:
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Vascular Plants: Most plants you're familiar with, like trees, flowers, and grasses, do have phloem. These are called vascular plants because they possess a vascular system comprised of xylem and phloem. Xylem transports water and minerals, while phloem transports sugars (produced during photosynthesis) throughout the plant.
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Non-Vascular Plants: Some simpler plants, such as mosses, liverworts, and hornworts (collectively known as bryophytes), as well as algae, do not have phloem (or xylem). These are known as non-vascular plants. They rely on diffusion and osmosis to transport water and nutrients.
Essentially, the presence of phloem is a key characteristic that differentiates vascular plants from non-vascular plants. Phloem allows for efficient transport of nutrients throughout the plant, enabling larger size and more complex structures.
