Plants that are adapted to living in areas where their water losses due to transpiration exceed their water uptake
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Name the 5 adaptations of xerophytic plants
Thick cuticles, rolling up of leaves, hairy leaves, stomata in pits or grooves and a reduced surface area to volume ratio of the leaves
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How does a thick cuticle prevent water loss?
The thicker the cuticle, the less water can escape
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How does the rolling up of leaves prevent water loss?
Rolling of leaves protects the lower epidermis from the outside and traps a region of still air within the rolled leaf. This region becomes saturated with water vapour so and so there is no water potential gradient between the inside and outside
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How do hairy leaves prevent water loss?
Hairy leaves trap moist air next to the leaf surface. The water potential gradient between the inside and the outside of the leaves is reduced and therefore less water is lost by transpiration.
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How do stomata in pits or grooves prevent water loss?
They trap moist air next to the leaf and reduce the water potential gradient
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How does a reduced surface area to volume ratio prevent water loss?
The smaller the surface area to volume ratio, the slower the rate of diffusion
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Name the 5 adaptations of xerophytic plants
Back
Thick cuticles, rolling up of leaves, hairy leaves, stomata in pits or grooves and a reduced surface area to volume ratio of the leaves
Card 3
Front
How does a thick cuticle prevent water loss?
Back
Card 4
Front
How does the rolling up of leaves prevent water loss?
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