6.2 Leaf Structure

Topic 6.
2
IGCSE BIOLOGY
Leaf structure
Learning objective:
 Identify chloroplasts, cuticle, guard cells and stomata, upper and

lower epidermis, palisade mesophyll, spongy mesophyll, vascular
bundles, xylem and phloem in leaves of a dicotyledonous plant
 Explain how the internal structure of a leaf is adapted for
photosynthesis
Flowering Plants
Flower
Leaf
Stem
Roots
The external structure of leaf
Vein Lamina
Midrib
Leaf stalk (petiole)

Scanning electron microscope Light microscope
(x400) (x400)
The internal structure of leaf
Waxy cuticle
Upper epidermis
Palisade mesophyll layer
Air spaces
Spongy mesophyll layer
Stomata
Lower epidermis
Waxy Cuticle & Upper Epidermis
Waxy cuticle
Upper epidermis
The waxy cuticle is a thin layer atop the epidermis.

Its function is to reduce the water lost from the leaf.
In arid conditions this cuticle layer ca be quite thick.
Upper epidermis cells contain no chloroplasts
They form layers on the upper surfaces of the leaf

Their function is to prevent water getting out and
stopping unwanted substances/organisms
getting in.
Disease
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.
The palisade cells contain a lot of chloroplasts

to help them perform this photosynthesis.
The palisade cells are closely packed together

to maximize light absorption.
In the leaf cross-section shown the palisade cells

are only found in the upper part of the leaf.
Spongy Mesophyll Layer
The cells in the spongy mesophyll layer are
not as closely packed as the cells in the
palisade mesophyll layer.
This creates air spaces inside the leaf to

enable gases to move in and out.
There are not as many chloroplasts in the

spongy mesophyll cells as there are in the
palisade mesophyll cells – but
photosynthesis still occurs in the spongy
mesophyll layer.

Stomata
There are holes found in leaves called stoma.
These holes allows gases to diffuse in and out

of the leaves.
The stoma are formed by two highly specialized
epidermis cells.
These cells, called guard cells, are the only
epidermis cells that contain chloroplasts.
The stoma open and close depending upon

the requirements of the plant.
It is through these stoma that water leaves the

leaf, the process that powers transpiration.
Stomata
How do gases enter and leave plants?
On the underside of leaves are small holes, or pores, called stomata. A single
hole is called a stoma. Each stoma is surrounded by two guard cells.
When guard cells gain water, they curve outwards. This

opens the stoma, allowing gases in and out.
Losing water causes the guard cells to

come closer together, closing the stoma.
This stops the movement of gases, but also
prevents water loss.
Stomata
Guard cells
Stomata
Stomata open Stomata closed

During photosynthesis When the stoma are clozed,
carbon dioxide diffuses in often at night or in a humid
and oxygen diffuses out environment, this stops
gases diffusing in and out
of the leaf
Changes in guard cell shape control the opening and
closing of stomata
Waxy cuticle Contain numerous chloroplasts and are
densely packed
Stoma
Loosely packed cells that do not contain as
many chloroplasts as palisade cells
Air spaces
Waterproof layer atop the epidermis
Epidermis
Pores that allow gaseous exchange
Palisade
mesophyll One-cell thick outer layer of cells that
cell prevent water loss from 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
Stoma Pores that allow gaseous exchange
Found in the spongy mesophyll layer,

Air spaces
enable gases to reach the leaf cells
One-cell thick outer layer of cells that

Epidermis
prevent water loss from the leaf
Palisade
mesophyll Contain numerous chloroplasts and are
cell densely packed
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!
Like solar panels, leaves convert

energy from the Sun into usable
chemical energy.
Although leaves come in a variety of

shapes and sizes, they share certain
features that enable the plant to
maximize photosynthesis.
How raw materials for
photosynthesis get into a
palisade cell?
Adaptions of leaves for photosynthesis
• Leaves are adapted to

obtain carbon dioxide, water
and sunlight
How are leaves adapted for photosynthesis?
 thin – this allows gases to reach cells easily
 wide and flat – this create a large surface

area to absorb as much light as possible
 veins – these carry water to the cells and
carry glucose away and also support leaves
 stomata – these are pores on the underside

of leaves through which gases move in and
out.
Activity:
match the function with the adaptive

feature of leaves
Exercise 1: The Leaf
1. _____
Vein 2. Lamina
______
3. _______
Midrib
Midrib Extension of the stalk into the leaf
Vein The blade of the leaf
Lamina Attaches the leaf to the stem
Stalk Branch-off from the midrib

Exercise 2: Leaf Structure
1. ___________
Waxy cuticle
2. ___________
Epidermis
3. ______________________
4. __________
Air space
5. _____________________
6. ________
Stomata
7. __________
Epidermis
Exercise 3: Link the Boxes
Pores that allow
Waxy cuticle gaseous exchange
Found in the spongy

mesophyll layer, enable
Stoma gases to reach the leaf
cells
Air spaces Waterproof layer atop

the epidermis
Exercise 4: Link the Boxes
Loosely packed cells that do

Epidermis
not contain as many
chloroplasts as palisade cells
One-cell thick outer layer

Palisade of cells that prevent
mesophyll cell water loss from the leaf
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
2. What is the function of this layer?

To prevent water loss and to stop substances and
3. organisms entering
What are two the between
differences leaf palisade mesophyll cells (PMC) and
spongy mesophyll cells (SMC)?
PMC – more densely packed, more chloroplasts

SMC – more loosely packed, less chloroplasts
4. By what process does carbon dioxide enter and leave leaves?
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
roots organelles light food

water chlorophyll oxygen stoma
Exercise 8: Short Questions - Photosynthesis
1. Which organelles in plant cells contain a green substance called chlorophyll?
Chloroplasts
2. Which two raw materials are required by green plants for photosynthesis?
Water and carbon dioxide

3. What is the waste product of photosynthesis?
Oxygen
4. How does this waste product leave the plant during the day?
Through the stoma

5. What process requires this waste product to enable green plants to release
energy from their food?
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
3. The sugar glucose, the product of photosynthesis, is changed to starch when it

is being stored by the plant. Why?
Glucose is soluble in water, starch is insoluble in water. By storing
the food starch it means it is easier for the plant to keep the food in
the required place
4. What is the chemical formula of glucose?

C H O
Exercise 10: Short Questions – Plant Nutrition
1. What is the word equation for photosynthesis?
2. What is the chemical equation for photosynthesis?
6H2O + 6CO2  C6H12O6 + 6O2

3. Name the arrowed organelle.
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…
Variegated leaf Variegated leaf after

before starch test starch test
Explain the result observed (8 marks)
Exercise 12: Products of Photosynthesis
Some destarched pondweed was set-up as below.
A bright lamp was placed nearby for two hours.
The following results were observed at the end of this period.
Before lamp After six hours of

turned on lamp shining
Explain the result observed (6 marks)
Exercise 16: Short Questions
1. What is a variegated leaf?
Parts of the leaf do not contain chlorophyll, other parts do
2. Draw a diagram of a variegated leaf.
3. What is the chemical test for starch?
Starch turns orange/brown iodine solution purple/black

4. How do you destarch a green plant?
You leave it in the dark for several days so that its food stores
(starch) are exhausted

6.2 Leaf Structure

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Topic 6.

 Identify chloroplasts, cuticle, guard cells and stomata, upper and

Leaf stalk (petiole)

Palisade mesophyll layer

Spongy mesophyll layer

The waxy cuticle is a thin layer atop the epidermis.

Upper epidermis cells contain no chloroplasts

They form layers on the upper surfaces of the leaf

Palisade mesophyll layer

The palisade cells contain a lot of chloroplasts

The palisade cells are closely packed together

In the leaf cross-section shown the palisade cells

This creates air spaces inside the leaf to

There are not as many chloroplasts in the

Spongy mesophyll layer

These holes allows gases to diffuse in and out

The stoma open and close depending upon

It is through these stoma that water leaves the

When guard cells gain water, they curve outwards. This

Losing water causes the guard cells to

Stomata open Stomata closed

Stoma Pores that allow gaseous exchange

Found in the spongy mesophyll layer,

One-cell thick outer layer of cells that

Like solar panels, leaves convert

Although leaves come in a variety of

• Leaves are adapted to

 thin – this allows gases to reach cells easily

 wide and flat – this create a large surface

 stomata – these are pores on the underside

match the function with the adaptive

Midrib Extension of the stalk into the leaf

Vein The blade of the leaf

Lamina Attaches the leaf to the stem

Stalk Branch-off from the midrib

Found in the spongy

Air spaces Waterproof layer atop

Loosely packed cells that do

One-cell thick outer layer

2. What is the function of this layer?

PMC – more densely packed, more chloroplasts

roots organelles light food

Water and carbon dioxide

Through the stoma

3. The sugar glucose, the product of photosynthesis, is changed to starch when it

4. What is the chemical formula of glucose?

2. What is the chemical equation for photosynthesis?

6H2O + 6CO2  C6H12O6 + 6O2

Variegated leaf Variegated leaf after

Before lamp After six hours of

3. What is the chemical test for starch?

Starch turns orange/brown iodine solution purple/black

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