Plant Tissues

• Epidermal cells


  Thin cells that form the upper and lower epidermis of a leaf
• Epidermal tissue


  • Protects the surface of the leaf
• Upper epidermis


  Transparent layer that allows light to pass through to the photosynthetic cells below
• Waxy cuticle


  Thin layer of oily material that reduces evaporation of water from the leaf surface
• Lower epidermis


  Contains tiny pores called stomata that allow carbon dioxide to enter and oxygen to leave
• Guard cells


  Found on either side of the stomata, help control the amount of water vapor that can pass out of the leaf
• Palisade mesophyll


  Consists of palisade cells packed full of chloroplasts that contain chlorophyll for photosynthesis
• Spongy mesophyll


  Full of air spaces that allow carbon dioxide to diffuse from the stomata to the palisade cells, and oxygen to diffuse in the opposite direction
• Xylem


  Transports water and dissolved mineral ions from the roots to the stem and leaves
• Phloem


  Transports dissolved sugars produced by photosynthesis from the leaves to the rest of the plant
• Translocation


  The movement of sugars through phloem tissue
• Meristem tissue


  Contains stem cells that can differentiate into different types of plant tissue, found in growing tips like shoots and roots