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6.2 Leaf Structure
6.2 Leaf Structure
2
IGCSE BIOLOGY
Leaf structure
Learning objective:
Flower
Leaf
Stem
Roots
The external structure of leaf
Vein Lamina
Midrib
Air spaces
Stomata
Lower epidermis
Waxy Cuticle & Upper Epidermis
Waxy cuticle
Upper epidermis
The waxy cuticle and epidermis help to protect the leaf against disease
Palisade Mesophyll Layer
The palisade mesophyll layer is where most of
the photosynthesis occurs in the leaf.
Spongy
mesophyll Found in the spongy mesophyll layer,
cell enable gases to reach the leaf cells
Key Words
Waxy cuticle Waterproof layer atop the epidermis
Spongy
Loosely packed cells that do not contain as
mesophyll
many chloroplasts as palisade cells
cell
How do leaves maximise photosynthesis?
Leaves are the most efficient solar
panels on Earth!
3. _______
Midrib
3. ______________________
Palisade mesophyll layer
4. __________
Air space
5. _____________________
Spongy mesophyll layer
6. ________
Stomata
7. __________
Epidermis
Exercise 3: Link the Boxes
Pores that allow
Waxy cuticle gaseous exchange
Contain numerous
Spongy chloroplasts and are densely
mesophyll cell packed, where most of the
photosynthesis occurs
Exercise 5: Short Questions - Leaf
1. What do we call the continuation of the leaf stalk into the leaf-blade?
Midrib
2. What do we call the specially adapted cells that form holes in the
leaves to allow gaseous exchange?
Guard cells
3. What are these holes/pores called?
Stoma
4. What is the name of the waxy waterproof layer found on top of the
epidermis?
Cuticle
5. What is the lamina?
The leaf-blade
Exercise 6: Short Questions - Leaf
1. What do we call the outer one-cell thick layer of cells that contain no
chloroplasts?
The epidermis
Diffusion
Exercise 7: Insert the Missing Words
organelles of plant cells that contain a green substance
Chloroplasts __________
chlorophyll
called __________.
light energy and this energy is
Scientists believe chlorophyll absorbs _____
then used to make _____.
food
The raw materials of photosynthesis are carbon dioxide and water
_____. The
oxygen
waste product of this reaction is _______.
The carbon dioxide required is absorbed through the ______
stoma in the
leaves – this is how the oxygen is also removed.
The water required is absorbed by the _____.
roots
Oxygen
4. How does this waste product leave the plant during the day?
Respiration
Exercise 9: Short Questions – Plant Nutrition
1. What do we call the process whereby green plants make glucose using light
energy and the raw materials carbon dioxide and water?
Photosynthesis
2. During the night many green plants perform another process whereby they
release the energy from their food they have made. What do we call this
process?
Respiration
Chloroplast
4. Which substance does this organelle contain that allows green
plants to absorb the Sun’s light energy for the
process of photosynthesis?
Chlorophyll
Exercise 11: Variegated Leaf
A destarched variegated plant was left in a sunny garden during the day
for several hours.
At the end of this period a leaf was taken from the plant and tested for
starch.
The results are shown below…
You leave it in the dark for several days so that its food stores
(starch) are exhausted