Plant Parts - Leaves What are YOU lookin’ at? 2001 AgriTeach.comTM (12901ms)

Why are plants important? They are the direct or indirect source of all food for animals. All plant life produces oxygen What other benefits can you think of? Beautification Freshening air Block wind Prevent soil erosion Provide shelter for animals Building materials and fuels

Basic Parts of the Plant Can you think of the 4 basic parts & their functions? Leaves: food factory of the plant Stems: support and moving materials Roots: anchor plant, store food, absorb nutrients, reproduction Flower: forms fruit and seeds, allows for pollenation

Leaf Anatomy

Internal Leaf Structure How many different types of cells make up leaves? FIVE: upper epidermis, palisade layer (has chloroplasts), spongy tissue, lower epidermis, and guard cells.

Functions of Leaf Cells Epidermis - Protects leaf from losing H2O Palisade Layer - Contains chloroplasts, which are responsible for photosynthesis Spongy Tissue - Allows for gas exchange Lower Epidermis - Contains most stoma Stoma/Guard Cells - Open and close to regulate amount of water in the leaf; prevents wilting.

Electron Micrograph of Leaf Can you identify the layers?

Photosynthesis Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction: 6CO2 + 6H2O + Light = C6H12O6 + 6O2 Left over Oxygen Carbon Dioxide Water Glucose (energy) Plants also respirate, much like animals when light is not available. They do, however, make much more O2 than they use.