EXERCISE 5 

 STRUCTURE OF EPIDERMIS 



Materials. Compound microscope; glass object slides and cover 

 slips ; leaf epidermis. 



Directions for work. Mount a small piece of epidermis in 

 water on a slide and cover with a cover slip. (Secure detailed 

 directions for using microscope from the teacher.) Examine 

 with low and high power. 



Note that the epidermis is made up mostly of rectangular 

 units, called cells, as a pavement is composed of bricks. Certain 

 o'f the cells are bean shaped and are found in pairs. 



Do you find spaces between cells forming openings through 

 the epidermis ? If so, describe and locate them clearly enough 

 to enable any one else to find them readily by the aid of your 

 notes. Such openings are called stomata (singular stoma). 



How do these openings assist in explaining the loss of water 

 by evaporation? 



References 



BERGEN and CALDWELL. Practical Botany, pp. 13, 14. 

 BERGEN and CALDWELL. Introduction to Botany, pp. 34~36. 



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