1) Wax cuticle a) Protective layer on top of the leaf, prevents water from evaporating b) Contains internal air spaces that increase the surface area to volume ratio for the diffusion of gases (mainly carbon dioxide) 2) Upper epidermis a) Thin and transparent to allow light to enter palisade mesophyll layer underneath it b) Contains guard cells and stomata 3) Palisade mesophyll a) Contains xylem and phloem to transport substances to and from the leaf b) Column-shaped cells tightly packed with chloroplasts to absorb more light, maximising photosynthesis 4) Spongy mesophyll a) Contains internal air spaces that increase the surface area to volume ratio for the diffusion of gases (mainly carbon dioxide) b) Column-shaped cells tightly packed with chloroplasts to absorb more light, maximising photosynthesis 5) Lower epidermis a) Absorbs and loses water to open and close the stomata to allow carbon dioxide to diffuse in, oxygen to diffuse out b) Contains guard cells and stomata 6) Guard cell a) Absorbs and loses water to open and close the stomata to allow carbon dioxide to diffuse in, oxygen to diffuse out b) Transports water into the leaf for mesophyll cells to use in photosynthesis and for transpiration from stomata 7) Stomata a) Protective layer on top of the leaf, prevents water from evaporating b) Where gas exchange takes place: opens during the day, closes during the night 8) Vascular bundle a) Transports sucrose and amino acids around the plant b) Contains xylem and phloem to transport substances to and from the leaf 9) Xylem a) Contains guard cells and stomata b) Transports water into the leaf for mesophyll cells to use in photosynthesis and for transpiration from stomata

Leaf structure

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