Leaf Structure

Question 1

What is the cuticle?

Answer 1

•Very waxy and waterproof meaning water loss is cut down by evaporation meaning it’s also protected by parasitic fungi.

Question 2

What is the upper epidermis?

Answer 2

• A single layer of cells which are transparent which allows more light to reach the palisade cells.
• These cells contain no chloroplasts allowing no light to pass through.

Question 3

What is the palisade layer?

Answer 3

• A layer of which it is made up of palisade cells which contain chloroplasts to absorb more light.
• Where most of photosynthesis takes place

Question 4

What is the vein?

Answer 4

•Contains tubes called xylem and phloem

Question 5

What is the spongy layer?

Answer 5

•The layer consists of irregularly shaped cells with large are spaces in between them, allowing gas exchange (diffusion) between the stomata and photosynthesising cells so that CO2 can get into the leaf, it also provides a large surface area to volume ratio.

Question 6

What is the lower epidermis?

Answer 6

• This layer contains lots of tiny holes named the stomata.

* This allows gases to diffuse in and out of the leaf.