nutrition in plants

Question 1

why is there a layer of waxy cuticle on the upper epidermis?

Answer 1

it protects the epidermis and prevents excessive water loss through evaporation

Question 2

why is the waxy cuticle transparent?

Answer 2

to allow sunlight to pass through

Question 3

do epidermal cells have chloroplasts?

Answer 3

no

Question 4

state the features of the palisade mesophyll cells

Answer 4

columnar in shape and closely packed

lots of chloroplast to trap more sunlight for photosynthesis

Question 5

state the features of the spongy mesophyll cells

Answer 5

irregular in shape with numerous intercellular spaces to allow rapid diffusion of CO2
lesser chloroplasts than palisade
covered in thin film for CO2 to dissolve in

Question 6

what are vascular bundles and their functions?

Answer 6

made up of phloem and xylem
places them close to the photosynthetic tissue
water and mineral salts can be distributed efficiently
food brought to other parts of the plant

Question 7

state features of the lower epidermis

Answer 7

single layer cells covered in a layer of waxy cuticle

Question 8

state features and functions of the guard cells

Answer 8

bean shaped, contains chloroplast
controls the opening and closing of the stoma
stoma allows CO2 and O2 to diffuse in and out of the cell
stoma allows water vapour to escape in a process called transpiration