Saturday 29 June 2013

Mesophytes:

Mesophytes are plants that grow in environments which don't usually have extreme weather conditions such a heat or dryness. Examples of mesophytes include roses and flax. Mesophytes typically transpire during the day or in when it is windy , so they have special adaptive features to prevent water loss so that photosynthesis and respiration are able to be carried out . 



Mesophytes usually have a waxy cuticle on both the upper and lower epidermis to reduce water loss through transpiration. Also stomata on mesophytes are only present on the lower epidermis , also the stomata close in extreme heat or wind to prevent transpiration , this is due the guard cells around the stomata which close when the plant starts to wilt and therefore force the stomata closed and prevent an water loss. By having waxy cuticle on the upper and lower epidermis , and stomata on the lower epidermis , mesophytes are able to maintain water balance , by reducing the rate of diffusion by the leaves .

Mesophytes also have air spaces around their leaf cells , especially around the spongy mesophyll layer , which facilitates the diffusion of gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide , and water vapour , which are then used for photosynthesis and respiration . The air spaces in the spongy mesophyll also reflect light back up to the palisade layer (main site of photosynthesis) , which allows maximum light absorption for photosynthesis . 

Mesophytes have an extensive root system which allows both water and minerals to be absorbed from the soil and transported by the xylem and phloem (vascular bundle) to be used for photosynthesis and respiration . By having an extensive root system , mesophytes are able to maintain water balance which is optimum for successful photosynthesis , as the roots absorb both water and minerals from the soil , which are then transported through-out the plant.
Mesophytes , such as deciduous trees and shrubs that live in areas which often experience snow , lose their leaves during winter and become dormant (extremely cold weather) , because the water in the soil is often frozen so therefore cannot be absorbed by the plant , also by losing their leaves they reduce the rate of transpiration . By losing their leaves and becoming dormant , mesophytes maintain a water balance at which the plant is able to survive in extreme weather conditions (snow).


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1 comment:

  1. Siple and clear wordings about mesophytes plant. Good explanation. This article is helpful for me.

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