2.3.9

Leaf Adaptations

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Adaptations of Leaves

The leaves of dicotyledonous plants are well adapted for photosynthesis:

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Water loss

  • The waxy cuticle covering the upper and lower epidermis creates a water proof barrier over the surface of the leaf, reducing water loss.
  • The guard cells around stomata in the lower epidermis of the leaf close in certain conditions to reduce water loss.
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Gas exchange

  • Carbon dioxide and oxygen can diffuse into and out of the leaf through stomata on the lower surface of the leaf.
  • There are air spaces between the spongy mesophyll cells of the leaf so carbon dioxide and oxygen can diffuse through the leaf.
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Sunlight

  • The palisade mesophyll cells are located just under the upper epidermis, and packed tightly together so they can absorb as much sunlight as possible.
  • Palisade mesophyll cells also contain many chloroplasts for photosynthesis.

Jump to other topics

1The Nature & Variety of Living Organisms

2Structure & Functions in Living Organisms

3Organism Functions

3.1Respiration

3.2Gas Exchange

3.3Transport

3.4Excretion

3.5Coordination & Response

4Reproduction & Inheritance

5Ecology

6Biological Resources

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