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6.2 Leaf Structure

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237 views6 pages

6.2 Leaf Structure

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mahadimofa041
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Cambridge O Level Biology Your notes

6.2 Leaf Structure


Contents
Leaf Structure
Identifying Leaf Structures in a Dicotyledonous Plant

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Leaf Structure
Your notes
Leaf Structure & Adaptations for Photosynthesis
Leaves are plant organs that carry out photosynthesis
Their structure is adapted to maximise photosynthesis, e.g.
They have a large surface area to maximise light absorption
They are thin to allow efficient movement of gases between leaf cells and the surrounding air
Leaf structure diagram

Leaves are adapted to carry out photosynthesis by being thin; this allows gases to diffuse quickly, e.g.
carbon dioxide can diffuse quickly between the surrounding air and the photosynthesising cells of the
leaf

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Identifying Leaf Structures in a Dicotyledonous Plant


Your notes
Identifying Leaf Structures in a Dicotyledonous Plant
Dicotyledonous plants are a group of flowering plants
The following structures are present in the leaves of dicotyledonous plants:
Cuticle
Stomata
Guard cells
Spongy mesophyll
Palisade mesophyll
Air spaces
Vascular bundles
Xylem
Phloem
Chloroplasts
Upper and lower epidermis
These structures are all adaptive features that allow leaves to photosynthesise efficiently
Dicotyledonous leaf structure diagram

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Your notes

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Your notes

The structures that make up the leaves of dicotyledonous plants allow them to carry out photosynthesis
efficiently
Leaf structure under a microscope diagram

Leaf structures can be seen clearly under a microscope


Leaf structure adaptations table

Structure Description Adaptation

Protects the leaf and reduces water loss


A transparent, fatty layer that covers the
Waxy Cuticle by evaporation while allowing light
upper surface of the leaf
through

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Pores through which gases and water


Allow carbon dioxide to diffuse into the
Stomata (singular vapour can diffuse; most plants have
leaf, and oxygen and water vapour to Your notes
stoma) more stomata on their lower leaf
diffuse out
surface
Cells that surround the stomata; guard
Plants can close the stomata to reduce
Guard Cells cells can change shape to open or close
water loss
the stomata
A layer of photosynthesising cells with Carry out photosynthesis, and allow the
Spongy Mesophyll
air spaces between them easy movement of gases
A layer of column-shaped cells that are Many cells can fit in a single layer
Palisade Mesophyll tightly packed together; they contain beneath the upper surface of leaves,
many chloroplasts maximising photosynthesis
Allows the raw materials of
Vascular Bundle Contains xylem and phloem
photosynthesis to reach the leaf
Provides water for photosynthesis, and
Xylem Transports water around the plant
maintains the transpiration stream
Allows the products of photosynthesis
Transports sucrose and amino acids
Phloem to travel away from the leaves to other
around the plant
parts of the plant
A layer of thin cells on the top surface of Allows light to pass through to the
Upper Epidermis
leaves palisade and spongy mesophyll cells
A layer of cells, guard cells and stomata
Lower Epidermis Allows gas exchange to take place
on the underside of leaves

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