A. The function of leaves is to help the plant produce food by converting the energy in sunlight into chemical energy that the plant can eat. Also, leaves have large amounts of stomata that expel the water by the process called transpiration. Manufacture of food. Most leaves have stomata, which open and close.They regulate carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water vapour exchange with the atmosphere. Veins form the midrib of the leaf, which gives a leaf structure. Leaf Structure and Function. The process is called photosyn­thesis by which leaf manufactures food material in the presence of sunlight and green pigment- chlorophyll present in the leaf. Petiole. Botanists call the upper side the adaxial surface (or adaxis) and the lower side the abaxial surface (or abaxis). The epidermis aids in the regulation of gas exchange. They convert carbon dioxide, water, and UV light into glucose through the process of photosynthesis. The functions of modified leaves are not dealt as they carryon spe­cialised functions as discussed earlier. A typical leaf shows three main parts: 1) petiole, 2) leaf base, and 3) leaf blade or lamina, each performing specific functions. The Functions of Needle Leaves. The outermost layer of the leaf is the epidermis. What do plant leaves do? It is the primary function of green leaves. Please update your bookmarks accordingly. Structures within a leaf convert the energy in sunlight into chemical energy that the plant can use as food. Most plants use their leaves to turn water, carbon dioxide, and light energy into the sugars their cells need to function. It consists of the upper and lower epidermis, which are present on either side of the leaf. A leaf is often flat, so it absorbs the most light, and thin, so that the sunlight can get to the chloroplasts in the cells. Also Refer: Photosynthesis. Leaves help absorb sunlight and carbon dioxide (CO2), and a leaf is actually an organ of the plant. Describes the structure and function of leaves. Photosynthesis is the primary function of leaves. Leaves help plants survive through photosynthesis. Leaf pigments absorb light from the sun and store it in the form of chemical energy. The structures within the leaf convert the energy and make it possible for the plant to get food. Transpiration. We have moved all content for this concept to for better organization. The leaves perform the following functions: Photosynthesis. It is the stalk that connects a leaf to the stem of the plant, it is made of complex conducting tissues called vascular tissues. Since cacti have thick fleshy stems, these took over the job of photosynthesis. Find out more about the role of leaves in this Bitesize Primary KS2 Science guide. Thus the light reflected in space from plants is low. Evergreen conifers are some of the oldest trees in the world, and for good reason. This sending of water into the air also reduces the temperature. A leaf is an above-ground plant organ and it is green. 1. As cactus leaves turned into cactus spines and lost their ability to photosynthesize, the plants had to find a new way to produce food. Without sunlight and CO2, plants would be unable to photosynthesize, so there’s a good reason some plants go a bit crazy on leaf production! The function of leaves: The main feature of leaves is providing food or fruits leaves directly attach with vascular and veins of the plant where they can transfer minerals waters from all parts of the tree and also extract minerals from roots to this way leaves also have its own veins; Transpiration is the removal of excess water from the plants into the atmosphere. Its main functions are photosynthesis and gas exchange. Parts of a Leaf Diagram. 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