Plant cell organisation

What are plants made up of?

Organs eg., Stems roots and leaves

Epidermal tissue

Covers the whole plant

Palisade mesophyll tissue

Part of leaf where most photosynthesis happens

Spongy mesophyll tissue

Contains big air spaces to allow gases to diffuse in and out of cells

Xylem and phloem

Transports things like water, mineral ions, and food around the plant (through the roots, stem, leaves)

Where is meristem tissue found?

At the growing tips of roots and shoots

What is the function of meristem tissue in plants?

It is able to differentiate into lots of different types of plant cell

What do leaves contain?

Epidermal, mesophyll, xylem and phloem tissues

What are the epidermal tissues covered in?

Waxy cuticle which helps to reduce water loss by evaporation

How is the upper epidermis adapted for its function?

Transparent so light can pass through it to the palisade layer

How does the palisade layer take care of most of the photosynthesis?

Has lots of chloroplasts = near the top of the structure to get the most light

What do the xylem and phloem form?

A network of vascular bundles = delivers water and other nutrients to the entire leaf and take away glucose produced by photosynthesis + help support the structure

How is the tissues of leaves adapted for efficient gas exchange?

Lower epidermis = full of little holes (stomata), let CO2 diffuse directly into the leaf

Air spaces in the spongy mesophyll tissue = increases rate of diffusion of gases

What is the opening of closing of the stomata controlled by?

Guard cells in response to environmental conditions