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Biology AS CIE

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  1. 1-cell-structure
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  2. 2-biological-molecules
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  3. 3-enzymes
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  4. 4-cell-membranes-and-transport
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  5. 5-the-mitotic-cell-cycle
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  6. 6-nucleic-acids-and-protein-synthesis
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  7. 7-transport-in-plants
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  8. 8-transport-in-mammals
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  9. 9-gas-exchange
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  10. 10-infectious-diseases
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  11. 11-immunity
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课 7, 主题 4
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7-2-transport-mechanisms AS xerophytic-plant-leaf-adaptations

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Exam code:9700

Xerophytic plant leaf adaptations

  • Xerophytes (from the Greek xero for ‘dry’) are plants that are adapted to dry and arid conditions

  • Xerophytes have physiological and structural (xeromorphic) adaptations to maximise water conservation

Xerophytic Adaptations of Leaves

Effect of Adaptation

Example

Fleshy succulent leaves

Store of water for times of low availability 

Bryophyllum

“Hinge cells” shrink when flaccid

Causes leaves to roll, exposing thick cuticle to the air and creating a humid space in the middle of the rolled leaf

Marram Grass (Ammophila arenaria

Leaves reduced to scales, spines, needles.

Leaves curled, rolled or folded when flaccid

Reduced transpiration due to reduced surface area exposed

Cactus (Opuntia)

Marram Grass (Ammophila arenaria)

Stomata closed during daylight

Stomata open during night

Daytime water loss minimised

Carbon dioxide fixed at night

Pineapple, Yucca, American Aloe

Sunken stomata and leaf surface covered in fine hairs

Water loss minimised as moist air is trapped and diffusion gradient reduced

Pine, Nerium 

Reduced numbers of stomata

Less water loss as fewer pores

Nerium, Prickly pear

Thick waxy cuticles

Water loss reduced via cuticle distance

Pine, Prickly pear

Cross-section of a leaf showing trichomes, sunken stomata, hinge cells, and a thick lower epidermis, each labelled with its role in reducing transpiration.
Photomicrograph and annotated drawing showing the xeromorphic features of a leaf of Ammophilia arenaria (Marram grass)

Examiner Tips and Tricks

You will be expected to make annotated drawings of transverse sections of leaves from xerophytic plants to explain how they are adapted.

Remember not all leaves will have every feature listed above so if you are looking at an unfamiliar image consider whether the adaptations you can see will help reduce water being lost from the leaf.

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