LEAVES
LEAVES
Leaf structure
Cuticle- A waxy covering on the leaves that prevent water from escaping.Guard cells- Crescent shaped cells embedded in the epidermis that contain chloroplasts.
Stoma- Each pair of guard cells contains an opening called a stoma.
Mesophyll- Loosely packed cells with many air spaces in between them.
Veins- Vascular bundles that are located in the leaf and continue through the stem.
Leaf Functions
-Leaves carry out photosynthesis, making sugar from the energy in sunlight
-Leaves exchange gas
-Leaves transpire water from the soil to the roots
-Leaves wilt because water diffuses from xylem vessels into other cells of the plant
Specialized leaves
There are also specialized leaves such as needles, tendrils, and spines.
Needles found on pine trees have a thick sticky substance at the tips so they can survive cold tempratures.
Tendrils are long, slender curling structers that wrap around stems found on grape vines.
Some leaves are structured into spines that would be found on cactuses; they protect the cactus.
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