The mixture of water and minerals from the roots is called raw sap. It travels up the stem of the plant to the leaves in thin tubes called xylem vessels.

During photosynthesis, the raw sap mixes with carbon dioxide to produce elaborated sap.

The elaborated sap produced in the leaves travels back to other parts of the plant in phloem vessels. Like the xylem vessels, these are the thin tubes.

The xylem and phloem vessels are always found together. In addition to transporting sap, they provide a support structure for the plant.

Raw sap and elaborated sap