Plant Structure¶

Plant Diagram

Cuticle¶

The Cuticle is a layer present on both the top and bottom of a leaf, and is where water can enter it. It is transparent as to allow light to get access to Palisade to provide the necessary light energy for photosynthesis to take place. It is made of wax.

Epidermis¶

The Epidermis is a layer present next to each Cuticle of the leaf, used for protecting the leaf while still letting light to pass through.

Palisade¶

The Palisade is where the chloroplasts (lots of them), used in photosynthesis are present.

Spongy Mesophyll¶

The Spongy Mesophyll is a large space, of largely air that exists to allow gases to diffuse through the leaf - between the stomate and the paliade cells.

Guard Cells¶

The Guard Cells surround each stoma on the lower surface of the leaf, allowing it to open and close as necessary to preserve water.

Diagrams used in this document, are the work of the BBC

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