plants and leaves

• guard cells open and close to reduce water loss
• Surface layer of the leaf

  • Waxy cuticle
  • Stops water from evaporating from the cells
  • Transparent to allow light through
• Palisade layer


  • Below the cuticle
  • Closely packed cells
  • Contains lots of chloroplasts
  • Where most photosynthesis occurs
• Spongy mesophyll


  • Below the palisade layer
  • Spaced out cells
  • Lots of airspaces between them
  • Allows gases like carbon dioxide to move to the leaf surface
• Veins


  • Contain xylem and phloem
  • Transport water and glucose to cells in the leaf
• Lower epidermis


  • Just below the spongy mesophyll
  • Contains guard cells
• Guard cells


  Can open and close the stomata during the day and night
• the top of the leaf is made up of waxy cuticle, upper edpidermis and palisade cells
• the middle layer is made up of spongy mesophyll and the veins which contain the xylem and phloem. there are gaps in the middle so the air can pass through
• the bottom is made up of the lower epidermis, and guard cells which open and close the stomata