Structure of Leaf Flashcards
1
Q
What is the waxy cuticle?
A
Water proof layer to prevent water loss
2
Q
What is the upper epidermis?
A
A transparent layer to allow light to get to the absorbing sunlight layer, where the chloroplasts are
3
Q
What is the palisade (mesophyll) cell?
A
Contain chlorophyll needed for photosynthesis
4
Q
What is the spongy mesophyll?
A
Where the cells are tightly packed creating lots of air spaces, air spaces increase the surface area to volume ratio of the leaf and reduce the distance of the diffusion pathway increasing the number of cells in contact with the carbon dioxide
5
Q
What is the guard cell?
A
Control the opening and the closing of the stomata
6
Q
Why are leaves broad?
A
