Plants & Human Affairs (BIOL106)  -  Stephen G. Saupe, Ph.D.; Biology Department, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, Collegeville, MN 56321; ssaupe@csbsju.edu; http://www.employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe

Leaf Anatomy: Pre Lab

Pre-Lab:

1. Print a copy of this prelab and exercise
2. Visit the websites listed in the exercise to learn about microscopes.
3. Answer the following questions directly on this sheet to be turned in.

• An aquatic plant is an example of a:     a. hydrophte    b.  mesophyte    c.  xerophyte
• A cactus is a good example of a:          a. hydrophte    b.  mesophyte    c.  xerophyte
• An oak tree is a good example of a:     a. hydrophte    b.  mesophyte    c.  xerophyte
• A dandelion is a good example of a:     a. hydrophte    b.  mesophyte    c.  xerophyte
• A wetland is a good place to find a:      a. hydrophte    b.  mesophyte    c.  xerophyte
• A rocky outcrop is a good place to find a:   a. hydrophte    b.  mesophyte    c.  xerophyte
• The forests at CSB & SJU would be good places to find a:  a. hydrophte    b.  mesophyte    c.  xerophyte

3. Complete the following hypotheses:  Compared to a hydrophytic plant (circle the correct response):

• Xerophyte leaves will have a (thicker/thiner) cuticle
• Xerophyte leaves will have stomata (raised above the epidermis/sunken in chambers).
• Xerophyte leaves will have (more/fewer) layers of epidermis
• Xerophyte leaves will be (thinner/thicker)
• Xerophyte leaves will have (less/more) air space
• Xerophyte leaves will be (flat/coiled).
• Xerophyte leaves will have stomata (on the lower side of the leaf/on the upper side of the leaf).
• Mesophyte leaves will (be more similar to hydrophyte leaves/more similar to xerophyte leaves/show intermediate features between hydrophyte and mesophyte leaves)

4.  For each of the three leaves below, indicate which is a hydrophyte, mesophyte, and xerophyte.

Leaf 1.  _______________     Leaf 2. _______________  Leaf 3. _______________

Leaf Type 1.

Leaf Type 2

Leaf 3

Last updated:  01/10/2005 / � Copyright  by SG Saupe / URL:http://www.employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe/index.html