Friday, February 5, 2010

How do hairs on lower surface of the leaf and waxy cuticle reduce water loss from the leaves?

The waxy layer restricts evaporation by serving as a barrier between the water in the plant from the air and the hairs retard airflow, also reducing evaporation.How do hairs on lower surface of the leaf and waxy cuticle reduce water loss from the leaves?
Hairs reflect solar radiation and lower leaf temperature. Waxy cuticle makes it harder for water to evaporate out of leaves.How do hairs on lower surface of the leaf and waxy cuticle reduce water loss from the leaves?
The waxy cuticle prevents the leaves from dryiing up so that they don't wilt. it's like a protective covering from the harmful surroundings. It also reduces water loss, thus helping the plant to retain more water and retain softness on its leaves.
Hairs on the lower part of the leaves reduce the wind bow effect that is when the wind flows the hair prevent the wind from blowing on the surface of the leaf.


The curicle is a nylon like material it alows ligth to penetrate to the leaving cells of the leaf but does not allow water to pass through. Since it does not allow water to pass through then plant which are mostly found in arid and semi-arid have very thick cuticle. Morover the waxy cuticle has hydrophobic bond these are bonds which are repeled by water molecules, and thus prevent water molecules from being lost during transpiration.

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