Compare5 marksStandard
A student examined transverse sections of leaves from two plants: Species X, a xerophyte adapted to arid conditions, and Species Y, a mesophyte from a temperate woodland. The following features were noted in Species X: a thick layer of cuticle on the upper and lower epidermis; the stomata are located in pits (sunken stomata) on the lower surface; the leaf is rolled with the lower surface facing inward, and there are numerous trichomes (hairs) lining the stomatal pits. Species Y has a thin cuticle, stomata on both surfaces, and a flat leaf blade.
Compare the adaptations of the xerophyte leaf to those of the mesophyte leaf in terms of reducing water loss from transpiration.