Give two ways in which the epidermis of a leaf is useful. How is cork different from the epidermis?
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Give two ways in which the epidermis of a leaf is useful. How is cork different from the epidermis?
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
Parenchyma: alive, thin walls, stores food. Collenchyma: alive, thick at the corners, flexible. Sclerenchyma: dead, lignin, hard. Epidermis protects and has stomata; cork is dead and waterproof.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. The epidermis. It protects the leaf, with cells packed with no gaps. Its stomata let gases in and out, and its waxy cuticle cuts water loss.
Step 2. Cork. Cork replaces the epidermis on old stems. Its cells are dead and their walls contain suberin, so water and gases cannot pass, and it has no stomata.
Answer: protection, and gas exchange through stomata; cork is dead, waterproof and has no pores.
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