Internal structure of a leaf

A leaf consists of following layers. Cuticle Upper epidermis Palisade mesophyll Spongy mesophyll Lower epidermis Pores also known as stoma /stomata

Cuticle
The outer thick waxy covering of the plants and leaves. Cuticle protects plant from drying out by reducing water loss. Does not let oxygen or carbon dioxide pass through it.

Cuticle

Trichomes
Trichomes in the shoot system are appendages of the epidermis.

Stomata
A stoma consists of the stomatal aperture and two enclosing guard cells.

Stomata Development
Perigenous development of a stoma in the epidermis of the internode of Avena, a grass. (ac) Guard cells and subsidiary cells originate independently from different mother cells. (d) Nearly mature stoma and associated subsidiary cells. (e) Mature stoma. On the basis of the arrangement of guard cells and subsidiary cells in the mature state, and without knowledge of early developmental stages, one would probably conclude, incorrectly, that development of the grass stoma was mesogenous. (f) Enlargement of a mature stoma of Avena. Note the elongate nucleus and the thick walls opposite the stomatal aperture. Magnification (ae) 1333, (f) 4425. From Kaufman et al. (1970). Used by permission of the Botanical Society of America.

Upper epidermis
Upper epidermis consists of a single layer of cells covered by cuticle. Sometime contains pores which allow gas or water molecule to pass through it.

 Epidermal cells of grasses may contain idioblasts (single or small groups of specialized cells) such as fibers, as well as cork and silica cells which often occur in pairs. Grasses are also characterized by the presence of bulliform cells

Palisade mesophyll
Just beneath the epidermis there are column shaped cells containing chloroplast are known as Palisade mesophyll . Most photosynthesis takes place here.

Spongy mesophyll
The second type of mesophyll tissue is the spongy mesophyll which is composed of closely packed irregular shape cells surronded by air spaces. There are fewer chloroplast because they are under side of the leaf.

Lower epidermis
Below the spongy mesophyll is the lower epidermis. We will see vascular bundle here and stomata.

What are stomata or stoma?

The pore like openings in the underside of the leaf leaf is called stoma (singular) and stomata (plural). Each stoma consists of two guard cells which control the opening and closing of the stomata

What is the function of stoma /stomata ?

Stomata allow

carbon dioxide and oxygen and water vapor diffuse into and out of the leaf by opening and closing .

Structure of stomata
Stomata consists of two guard cells. When there is high water pressure guard cells open. Low water pressure in the guard cells cause stomata to close.

Do you think stomata are open all the time?

Plants keep their stomata open just enough to allow photosynthesis to take place but not so much that they lose excessive amount of water.

What would happen if the stomata were kept open all the time?
If the stomata were kept open all the time, water loss due to transpiration would be so great that few plants would be able to take enough water to survive.

What is the time frame of opening and closing stomata?

In general, stomata are open during the day time when photosynthesis are active, and closed at night.
However, stomata may be closed even in the bright sunlight under hot, dry conditions in which water conservation is a matter of life and death.

Essential Question: What are some major types of leaves?

What are some of the major types of leaves?

Many different types of leaves exist. Some leaves have adapted to hot, dry climates by storing water or being smaller. Some leaves have very large blades to collect the maximum light in a shady location.