Transpiration in Plants : Comparing Leaves Different plants inhabit different kinds of environments and have external features that help them thrive in different kinds of places. 5 th Grade Life Science

Transpiration The process by which plants take in water through the roots and release it through the leaves

Let’s Play a Game ! Transpiration

Which leaves help reduce the loss of water (transpiration) Large Leaves or Small Leaves?

Which leaves help reduce the loss of water (transpiration) thick, waxy coated leaves or thin, soft leaves?

Which leaves help reduce the loss of water (transpiration) darker colored or lighter colored leaves?

Answers Which leaves help reduce the loss of water (transpiration): A. Larger or smaller leaves? (Smaller leaves lose less water due to a smaller surface area. Think of wringing out a large sponge as compared to a small sponge. The larger sponge (leaf) contains more water to lose.) B. Thick, waxy-coated leaves or thin, soft leaves? (The thick, waxy coated leaves lose less water, since the wax holds the water inside the leaves.) C. Darker colored or lighter colored leaves? (Lighter colored leaves lose less water due to the fact that more sunlight, therefore more heat, is reflected off of the light colored surface of the leaves.)