Stomata

• Gases have to move in and out of the leaf through the stomata, which are pores in the lower epidermis of the leaf
• Stomata:

  • Plants in dry environments will have fewer stomata to help reduce water loss
• Stomata:

  Transpiration is the loss of water from the plant, stomata can control how much water leaves

  
• Stomata: Plants have to minimise how much water they lose but they still have to exchange gases

  • When plants have enough water, guard cells are turgid which keeps the pores open

  
• Stomata:

  • When plants are dehydrated, the guard cells become flaccid causing the hole to close