LEAVES. 1. Why is the leaf considered to be the PLANT factory? This is where the sugar is made.

LEAVES

1. Why is the leaf considered to be the PLANT factory?

This is where the sugar is made. 

2. Why are leaves useful for identifying plants?

Different species of plants have different shaped leaves, and different vein patterns on the back.

3. What is the STALK?

Connects the stem to the leaf.

  4. What is the MIDRIB?

Big vein in the middle of the leaf.

 5. What is the BLADE?

Green part of the leaf.

6. What are the SMALL VEINS?

Branches off of the midrib.

7. Explain how leaves vary in size:

Some as small as duckweed, others are big enough to cover a two story house.

8.Draw and label the different types of edges that we find on leaves:

9. Draw the vein patterns that are found on the back of leaves:

10. Draw and label the three ways that leaves are arranged on the stem:

Opposite pattern

AlternatePattern

WhorledPattern

11. What is the one thing that all three leave groupings have in common?

The leaves do not overlap too much, therefore allowing maximum exposure to the sun.

12. Identify the following cell layers found in the leaf:

Layer

Layer

Wax layer (cuticle)

Outer layer. Protection from insects and dehydration. 

Upper Epidermis

 Upper skin layer of the leaf. One cell thick, used for protection.

Palisade Layer Tightly packed layer of photosynthetic cells.

Spongy layer  

Loosely packed layer of photosynthetic cells. Lots of air space

Leaf vein

Enters the leaf at the spongy layer. Brings up water, and takes away food.

List and describe the two types of tube like cells found in the vein:

Xylem

Water transport cells. Larger cells within the vein.

Phloem

Food transport cells. Smaller cells within the vein.

13. What is the STOMA? What does it do?

A pore in the lower epidermis.

It allows water to leave the leaf, and air to enter the leaf. 

14. What are the GUARD CELLS and what do they do?

One set on each side of the stoma. During drought, the guard cells will swell up and close the stoma so no water can get out. Opens up during wet days. 

Layer

Layer

15. How does water leave the plant?

Dribbles out through the stoma. 

16. What is Transpiration?

The evaporation of water from the surface of the leaf.  

17. Considering all the water that is taken in by the roots, how much of this water is lost due to transpiration?

99% 

18. What is Turger?

Strength due to water pressure. The water moves swiftly through the roots, up the stem and out the leaf. This continuous movement of water gives the plant strength. This is turger.

19. What is Wilting?

Due to low amounts of water moving through the plant. Low water pressure causes wilting.

20. Explain how the Stoma and Guard Cells try to keep the plant from wilting:  

The guard cells close the stoma during dry periods to prevent water loss.  

21. Why would you consider a greenhouse an ideal environment for plants to grow?.

 Yes, it is

Warm and wet. Little or no wilting.

IDEAL

22. How did people once believe that plants got their food?

From the soil 

23. How do plants really get their food?

 The plants use their chloroplast to manufacture sugar from the elements in their environment.

 C6 H12 O6

24. What is the food produce produced by the plant?

 GLUCOSE ( a simple sugar)

25. Why does a plant produce this sugar?  

The plant builds a sugar molecule to have a place to put the energy that it received from the sun.

26. Why can plants absorb energy from the sun while animals can’t?

Plants have chloroplast which contain chlorophyll and animals do NOT have chloroplast.

There is energy in the _SUN_____. The plant ___NEEDS____ this energy!

The plant uses its _CHLOROPLAST which is full of __CHLOROPHYLL____ to absorb this energy.

The plant needs a place to __STORE_____ this energy. So, it _BUILDS_____ a _SUGAR MOLECULE

It needs some RAw materials to build with, so it takes in __CARBON DIOXIDE___________ from the air,

And __WATER______ from the _____SOIL_________ through the roots.

It combines the __Carbon Dioxide ___ from the _air_____________ with the __water___________ to make this sugar.

The unused __oxygen___________ is released into the atmosphere.

28. What two things do the plant use the sugar for?

EnergyBuilding materials 

29. Why do animals, even humans, have to eat plants?

To get energy from the sugar.

30. How long does a plant’s leaves stay green?

 As long as there is enough sunlight

31. What causes leaves to stay green during the spring and summer?  

Available sunlight causes the production of chlorophyll. This green color then dominates the leaf and all you see is green.

32. What other colors are found in leaves?  

Red, brown, yellow, purples.

33. Why do we see other

colors in the fall of the year?

As the amount of sunlight gets less and less, the amount of chlorophyll drops. The other colors can now be seen.

34. Why do all living things depend on photosynthesis?

(a) Food

(b) Oxygen released during photosynthesis. 

35. List some practical uses for leaves

A Food

B Animals eat plants

C Making products

E herbs and spices

F Medications.