Leaves

Question 1

What are leaves?

Answer 1

The (usually) photosynthetic organs of the plant

Question 2

How diverse is leaf morphology?

Answer 2

Very diverse. Can range from tiny compound leaves to huge simple leaves

Question 3

What is an advantage of compound leaves?

Answer 3

They can move with the wind and reduce drag, and are modular

Question 4

How well are leaves able to tolerate losing large parts?

Answer 4

Very well. They can lose a lot of the blade and still survive and work

Question 5

Damage in what structure will kill a leaf?

Answer 5

The petiole

Question 6

What is the basic structure of a leaf?

Answer 6

Cuticle on both sides and stomata will usually be on the lower side. Mesophyll cells in the middle, with the tightly packed pallisade mesophyll on the top and the spongy mesophyll on the bottom

Question 7

Why is it advantageous to have the spongy mesophyll on the bottom of the leaf?

Answer 7

That’s where the stomata are. Having the air pockets in the mesophyll allows gas exchange and air flow

Question 8

Why is it advantageous to have the pallisade mesophyll on the top of the leaf?

Answer 8

There’s more light there, and having more cells there means more photosynthesis

Question 9

What parts of the leaf are part of the dermal tissue system?

Answer 9

The epidermis, trichomes, and stomata

Question 10

What are the traits of the epidermis of a leaf?

Answer 10

Tough and made of tightly packed cells. They have no chloroplasts and are transparent

Question 11

What is the function of the epidermis?

Answer 11

Protects and supports the leaf, and secretes the cuticle

Question 12

What is the difference between hairy trichomes and glandular trichomes?

Answer 12

Hairy trichomes are to protect against herbivory and make the plant unpleasant to eat, and glandular trichomes will secrete phytochemicals and aromatics

Question 13

What parts of the leaf are part of the ground tissue system?

Answer 13

The pallisade and spongy mesophyll

Question 14

What type of cells make up the mesophyll?

Answer 14

Parenchyma

Question 15

What is the function of the bundle sheath cells?

Answer 15

In CAM plants they load CO2 and load photosynthates into the phloem in C3 plants

Question 16

How does the vascular tissue branch in a eudicot leaf?

Answer 16

The main vein is the midrib of the leaf, which branches into major veins which then branches into a net of minor veins

Question 17

What leaf structure create a carnivorous plant leaf?

Answer 17

The main vein

Question 18

How is the cuticle modified in carnivorous plant leaves?

Answer 18

Creates little bits of wax that will stick to the feet of insects, so they slip and fall in

Question 19

How do pitcher plants trap insects?

Answer 19

They have modified nectar glands that produce a nectar-like liquid that attracts insects. The insect walks all over the leaf looking for the food and accumulates the wax bits of the cuticle on their feet. When they slip, they fall into the pitcher, which contains digestive juices. The trichomes inside the leaf produce spikes and make it near impossible for the insect to climb out

Question 20

What are 5 types of specialized leaves?

Answer 20

Carnivorous plant leaves
Spines
Tendrils
Bulbs
Fenestrated leaves

Question 21

How do fenestrated leaves help with water loss?

Answer 21

They have a “pupil” that lets light into the leaf and the clear gel scatters the light inside. The inside cells do photosynthesis, so they aren’t exposed to the heat that would cause evaporation