Explain the significance of the following
1 hair like, structures on epidermal cell
2 Epidermis has a thick waxy coating of cutin in dedert plants
3 Small pores in epidermis of leaf
4numerous layers of epidermis in cactus
5 presence of a chemical suberin in cork cells.
- The root-hairs help to increase surface area for absorption of water and dissolved ions from the soil.
- The waxy cuticle prevents the loss of moisture from the leaves and stems.
- A stoma is an opening (pore) in the epidermis helps for gaseous exchange and transpiration.
- Cacti with a multiple epidermis (two or more cell layers), reduce the temperature of the stem and provides mechanical support. But, multiple epidermises are uncommon.
- The dead cork cells are lined with suberin, a fatty substance that makes them highly impermeable to gases and water.