Limiting water loss (plants)

• Thick cuticle: forms a waterproof barrier to prevent water loss, a thicker cuticle means less water loss
• Rolling up of leaves: this protects the lower epidermis and traps a region of still air within the rolled leaf. This region has a high eater potential, meaning there is no concentration gradient, so the leaf doesn't loose any water
• Hairy leaves: a thick layer of hair (especially on the lower epidermis) traps moist air next to the leaf surface, resulting in a reduced concentration gradient
• Stomata in pits or grooves: again this traps moist air next to the leaf to reduce the concentration gradient
• A reduced surface area to volume ratio: means that there is a rate of diffusion as there is less area for water to escape by, however this risks a low level of photosynthesis