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XYLEM---VESSEL ELEMENTS, SHOWING HELICAL (or SPIRAL) PATTERNS IN THE CELL WALLS, VESSEL ELEMENTS FUNCTION IN WATER TRANSPORT IN PLANTS, 100X. This is a longitudinal section through the stem of Populus (cottonwood). Vessel Elements are elongated hollow cells with open ends. Two cells are shown connected to one another (in the center of the image) end-to-end forming a VESSEL (like a pipe system). The secondary wall is incomplete and is laid down in rings, spirals or helical patterns. The Vessel Elements are noncollapsible tubes that conduct water. Mature vessel elements are non living.