Plant Basics & Types Flashcards
State 5 morphological features of xerophytes that help to reduce water loss by transpiration
Humid inner atmosphere, no stomata on thick lower epidermis cuticle, unicellular hairs, thick lower cuticle, sunken stomata
Humid inner atmosphere
This is created by rolled leaves which reduce the water potential gradient between the air near the leaf and the leaf so less water is lost. The rolled leaves also reduce surface area of transpiration
No stomata on thick lower epidermis cuticle
This reduces water loss from there entirely so that water can only be lost from the upper and more adapted cuticle.
Unicellular hairs trap humid air
These hairs are stiff and interlocking. The humid air reduces the water potential gradient so less water is lost.
Sunken stomata
The stomata are in pits so that the water vapour is trapped inside reducing the water potential gradient
Upper epidermis in xerophytes?
The upper cuticle is thin and has stomata
What is the lower leaf surface sometimes called?
Abaxial
What is the upper leaf surface sometimes called?
Adaxial
Mesophyte stomata on upper surface
Very few
Mesophyte stomata lower surface
They are mainly on the lower surface to reduce water loss
Mesophyte upper surface cuticle
Waxy cuticle to avoid water loss
Mesophyte lower surface cuticle
Very little cuticle
Air spaces mesophyte
Stems and leaves have large spaces which act as reservoirs for carbon dioxide and oxygen. They also assist with buoyancy
Mesophyte
Plant with adequate water supply e.g. crop plants and plants that live in temperate regions
Xerophyte stomata upper surface
The are in pits so that that humid air is trapped outside the stomata, reducing water potential gradient between the leaf and reducing the rate of transpiration.
