Structure of the Leaf Flashcards
What layer covers the leaf?
Waxy Cuticle
What is the waxy cuticle?
A thin, oily layer to reduce evaporation of water to prevent the leaf drying out
What is below the wavy cuticle?
Upper Epidermis
What does the upper epidermis do?
A transparent layer to the leaf, that allows light to pass into the photosynthetic cells below
What is stomata?
Tiny pores in the leaf to allow CO2 to enter and oxygen to leave– also control water vapour
What are guard cells?
Pairs of epidermal cells that control gas diffusion by regulating the opening and closing of stomatal cells
What is palisade mesophyll?
Packed with chloroplasts, which contain chlorophyll to absorb light energy needed for photosynthesis
What is spongy mesophyll?
Full of air spaces to allow CO2 to diffuse from the stomata through the spongy mesophyll to the palisade cells. Oxygen also diffuses from palisade cells to the spongy mesophyll from the stomata
What are xylem?
Transports water from the roots to the stem and leaves, to use for photosynthesis. Also transports dissolved mineral ions, including magnesium to make chlorophyll
What are phloem?
Transports dissolved sugars produced by photosynthesis from the leaves to the rest of the plant. The sugars can be used immediately for processes like respiration, or can be stored as starch
What is the movement of sugars, etc, from the phloem called?
Translocation
What is meristem tissue?
A tissue found on growing tip/shoots, that contains stem cells which can differentiate into different types of plant tissue
