Table of Contents
Is a leaf made of cells?
A leaf is made of many layers that are sandwiched between two layers of tough skin cells (called the epidermis). Most food production takes place in elongated cells called palisade mesophyll. Gas exchange occurs in the air spaces between the oddly-shaped cells of the spongy mesophyll.
What is leaf made up of?
Leaf tissue consists of the epidermis, which forms the outermost cell layer, and mesophyll and vascular tissue, which make up the inner portion of the leaf. In some plant species, leaf form is modified to form structures such as tendrils, spines, bud scales, and needles.
What carries food and water to the cells in a leaf?
Stems carry water and nutrients taken up by the roots to the leaves. Then the food produced by the leaves moves to other parts of the plant. The cells that do this work are called the xylem cells. They move water. The phloem cells move the food.
What are the cells in the leaf called?
Types of Leaf Cell Epidermis. An epidermal leaf cell is any cell which protects the outside of the leaf. Palisade Mesophyll. The palisade mesophyll consists of a type of leaf cell specifically designed to carry out photosynthesis. Spongy Mesophyll. Spongy mesophyll is exactly what it sounds like: a loose matrix of structural mesophyll cells. Vascular Bundle.
Is leaf made up of cells?
The cells of a leaf are sandwiched in between two layers of epidermal cells, which provide the leaf with a waxy, nearly impermeable cuticle that protects against water loss. The only way for gases to diffuse in and out of the leaf is though small openings on the underside of the leaf, the stomata.
How many cells thick is a leaf?
Each leaf is two cells thick, except along the margins, where it is one cell thick. All of the cells are more or less rectangular in outline, but the cells in the upper layer are larger than those in the lower layer, and it is the larger cells we want to examine closely. Sprigs of Elodea are provided.