plant tissues

• epidermal tissues structure & function

  • covers the whole plant
  • covered with a waxy cuticle which reduces water loss by evaporation
• upper epidermis structure & function

  • transparent so that light can pass through it to the palisade layer
• palisade mesophyll structure & function

  • has a lot of chloroplasts
  • near the top of the leaf to get the most light
• spongy mesophyll structure & function

  • has lots of air spaces which increase the rate of diffusion of gases
• lower epidermis structure & function

  • full of little holes called stomata
  • guard cells control the opening & closing of the stomata in response to environmental conditions
• how is water transported from the roots to the atmosphere?

  • water transported in the xylem
  • water evaporates from leaves through the stomata
• why is the stomata on the lower surface of the leaf?

  to reduce water loss so the plant doesn't wilt
• how is meristem tissue adapted for its function?

  made up of stem cells which can differentiate into different cell types