Leaf Structure and Function
Ever wonder how plants make their own food? The leaf is the primary site of photosynthesis, the process that converts water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen 6H2O+6CO2→C6H12O6+6O2. Leaves also manage gas exchange, taking in CO₂ and releasing O₂.
The star player in photosynthesis is the chloroplast, an organelle found in plant cells. Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll and other pigments that absorb different wavelengths of light. This variety of pigments helps plants capture more of the light spectrum, making photosynthesis more efficient.
Leaves have a complex structure designed for maximum food production. From top to bottom, a leaf includes a waxy cuticle, upper epidermis, palisade mesophyll (packed with chloroplasts), spongy mesophyll, and lower epidermis with guard cells that control the stomata (openings).
Did You Know? The green color we see in leaves comes from chlorophyll, but leaves actually contain multiple pigments. These other pigments become visible in autumn when chlorophyll breaks down!