Plant tissues

Question 1

Epidermal tissues

Answer 1

This covers the whole plant. It is covered with a waxy cuticle, which helps to reduce water loss by evaporation. The upper epidermis is transparent so that light can pass through it to the palisade layer.

Question 2

Palisade mesophyll tissue

Answer 2

This is where most of the photosynthesis happens, and so has lots of chloroplasts. This means they are near the top of the leaf where they can get the most light.

Question 3

Spongy mesophyll tissue

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Xylem and phloem

Answer 4

They form a network of vascular bundles, which deliver water and other nutrients to the entire leaf and take away the glucose produced by photosynthesis. They also help support structure.

Question 5

Meristem tissue

Answer 5

This is found at the growing tips of shoots and roots and is able to differentiate into lots of different types of plant cell, allowing the plant to grow.

Question 6

Lower epidermis

Answer 6

Full of holes called stomata, which let CO2 diffuse directly into the leaf. The opening and closing of the stomata is controlled by guard cells in response to environmental conditions. The air spaces in the spongy mesophyll tissue increase the rate of diffusion.