Plant tissues, organs and systems 1 Flashcards
What is the epidermis?
The outermost layer of cells of an organism
What is the function of the epidermis?
protection against water loss, exchanges of gases between the leaves and the air, and the uptake of water from the roots
Why is the epidermis transparent?
To allow light to pass through it for photosynthesis
What is the palisade mesophyll?
Contains lots of chloroplasts to maximise the amount of glucose produced in photosynthesis
Where is the spongy mesophyll located?
Below the palisade mesophyll layer in the leaves
What are the spongy mesophyll?
They have gaps in between them to allow gases to diffuse from the leaves to the air
Where are stomata located?
At the bottom of the leaves
What are the stomata?
They open and close to allow gases to diffuse into and out from the leaves at different rates. They are surrounded by guard cells which swell to open and close the stomata
What are xylem tubes?
Dead plant cells joined together into long tubes through which water flows during transpiration
What is transpiration?
The gradual release of water vapour from the leaves
What happens to the sugars made during photosynthesis?
Dissolve in water and are transported around the plant in phloem tubes for respiration/storage in translocation
What is the meristem?
The tips of roots and shoots have a region of rapidly growing cells called meristems. Mitosis happens here
