Structure and Parts of leaves.

From the out, leaves are quite thin but did you know that leaves have a lot of layers inside it?

Well yes leaves contain a lot of layers inside. Let us go through the external parts first:

External parts:

1. Lamina: It is the upper layer of the leaf that provides a larger surface area to the leaf so that it can absorb maximum amount of sunlight.

2. Veins: These carry glucose (product made in the process of photosynthesis) made in the leaf to the stem, to the parts of plants that need it.

3. Midrib: This is like a backbone to the plants. It supports the plant and it's shape.

4. Petiole: This at the very start of the leaf which connects the leaf with the stem. It acts like a bridge between the stem and leaf.

Internal Parts:

1. Stomata: These are available on the upper and lower epidermis. These are the parts of leaf which lets the carbon dioxide into the leaf and the oxygen out of the leaf. It opens for gas exchange. These are guarded by 2 guard cells which regulate the opening and closing of these stomates.

2. Waxy Cuticle: It protects that plant from losing a lot of water in extreme weather.

3. Upper Epidermis: It comes after the waxy cuticle. This layer is transparent so the sunlight absorbed by the plants could reach further down the layers in the plants.

4. Palisade Mesophyll: This is the layer which has palisade cells which are responsible for most of the process of photosynthesis.

5. Spongy Mesophyll: It is just below the palisade layer which acts like a passageway for the exchange of gases. The gases (carbon dioxide and oxygen) passes through it to reach the stomates.

6. Xylem: These vessels transport water to the leaves which is essential for the process of photosynthesis.

7. Phloem: These are the vessels which transport glucose throughout the plant and to the parts which require growth.

8. Air spaces: Just below the spongy mesophyll. These allow plants to efficiently compete for light.

9. Lower Epidermis: This is a similar layer like upper epidermis but is found at the bottom of the leaf.

10. Waxy Cuticle: Another layer of waxy cuticle is found at the bottom of the leaf, just below the lower epidermis.

*Look at the picture carefully and differentiate between the stomata (also called stoma) and guard cells.

Note: Plants have a lot of layers inside it. It has 2 epidermises and 2 waxy cuticle layers.

*All pictures are taken from google