Question

A fellow student brought in a leaf to be examined. The leaf was dark green, had a thick cuticle, and had a total surface area of about 1.3 mm. Where is the most likely environment where this leaf was growing? O a fast-flowing stream O a sandy, dry environment O an oasis within a grassland the floor of a temperate forest

Answer 1

Sandy dry environment

In the question, it is given that the leaf is having a thick cuticle. Cuticle is a thick waxy covering present on the surface of the leaves to prevent water loss by transpiration. This is present in the plants living in dry and hot areas so as to conserve water.

Plants living in dry conditions are called as xerophytes. Other adaptation present in plants are -

1. Deep rooted system so as to absorb water from deep inside the earth

2. Leaves are reduced into needles and scales so as to minimise the surface area

3. Stem becomes green and takes over the photosynthetic function

4. Stem are present on stem

5. Stem stores water and food

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