Xylem go up, Phloem go down. These vessels are responsible for transporting all those tasty sugars made through photosynthesis from a plant’s green leaves to the rest of their bodies in a process called translocation. Unlike xylem vessels, phloem are always alive. Phloem sap is the source of food for leaf-sucking insects such as aphids, caterpillars, and thrips.
Take care of yourselves everyone, and don’t let the thrips, or other bugs, bite!