Dicotyledonous Leaf Structures

Vocabulary flashcards covering the structures and adaptations of leaves in dicotyledonous plants based on lecture notes.

Dicotyledonous plants

A group of flowering plants that possess specific leaf structures adaptive for efficient photosynthesis.

Waxy Cuticle

A transparent, fatty layer covering the upper surface of the leaf that protects the leaf and reduces water loss by evaporation while allowing light through.

Stomata

Pores, usually found in higher concentration on the lower leaf surface, through which gases and water vapour can diffuse.

Guard Cells

Cells surrounding the stomata that can change shape to open or close them, allowing the plant to reduce water loss.

Spongy Mesophyll

A layer of photosynthesising cells with air spaces between them to allow for the easy movement of gases.

Palisade Mesophyll

A layer of column-shaped cells tightly packed together containing many chloroplasts to maximise photosynthesis beneath the upper surface of leaves.

Vascular Bundle

A structure containing xylem and phloem that allows the raw materials of photosynthesis to reach the leaf.

Xylem

A component of the vascular bundle that transports water around the plant to provide for photosynthesis and maintain the transpiration stream.

Phloem

A component of the vascular bundle that transports sucrose and amino acids away from the leaves to other parts of the plant.

Upper Epidermis

A layer of thin cells on the top surface of leaves that allows light to pass through to the palisade and spongy mesophyll cells.

Lower Epidermis

A layer of cells, guard cells, and stomata on the underside of leaves that allows gas exchange to take place.