Why epidermis is important for plants ???
Answers
It is the waxy cuticle layer which provides a protective barrier against mechanical injury, water loss, and infection. It protects all the surface of the plants without any intercellular space in it. ... The epidermis bearing stomata also helps in removal of water from the plants.
The epidermis is formed of single continuous layered cells. It covers without any intercellular space and protects all parts of the plant. Small pores, called stomata, are present on the leaf, and help in the exchange of gases and water. ... It checks the loss of water, mechanical injury and invasion by parasitic fungi.
It forms a boundary between the plant and the external environment. The epidermis serves several functions: it protects against water loss, regulates gas exchange, secretes metabolic compounds, and (especially in roots) absorbs water and mineral nutrients.
However, in plants that grow in very hot or very cold conditions, the epidermis may be several layers thick to protect against excessive water loss from transpiration. A waxy layer known as the cuticle covers the leaves of all plant species. The cuticle reduces the rate of water loss from the leaf surface.