the structure of the leaf Flashcards
the function of the leaf is
to carry out photosynthesis
photosynthesis requires a lot of
carbon dioxide and water
the water required for photosynthesis comes from
soil and is transported to the leaf through roots and xylem
what is the path of carbon dioxide travel through the leaf
stomata in the lower epidermis, spongy mesophyll, palisade mesophyll where it carries out photosynthesis
how does carbon dioxide enter the leaf?
it diffuses from the outside in through the stomata
where are stomata found
the lower epidermis
what is the lower epidermis
a layer of epidermal tissue found at the bottom of a leaf, which seperates the leaf and the outside world
where does carbon dioxide go after it enters the leaf through the stomata
it moves up through the leaf and enters the spongy mesophyll layer
how does carbon dioxide move through the spongy mesophyll layer?
spongy mesophyll tissue has a lot of air gaps to allow carbon dioxide to easily diffuse to the next layer
where does carbon dioxide go after the spongy mesophyll layer?
the palisade mesopyhll
what is the function of the palisade mesophyll and how does it carry this out?
the majority of photsynthesis occurs there and palisade cells are packed with chloroplasts to carry out a lot of photosynthesis
what is above the palisade mesophyll and what is its job?
the upper epidermis, like the lower epidermis, it provides a barrier between the leaf and the rest of the world
why is the upper epidermis almost transparent?
to allow sunlight to reach chloroplasts in palisade cells and allow photosynthesis
what happens to the glucose when it is produced by photosynthesis in the palisade mesophyll?
it is carried to the rest of the plant by the phloem
how does the plant counter the water loss in the leaf?
xylem brings water to the leaf and the waxy cuticle acts as a layer on top of the leaf preventing water evaporating off the leaf, the stomata can also close to prevent water loss at the bottom of the leaf
