Question

In the collection of a botanical garden, plants are classified according to the environments in which they thrive. Compare descriptions of plants and environments below. What plant in which environment would have large leaves that are covered with a thick upper cuticle, exhibit wide flat blades, and possess large air spaces (chambers) within mesophyll tissue?

a) Aquatic plants in freshwater
b) Desert plants in arid regions
c) Tropical rainforest plants
d) Alpine plants in mountainous regions

Answer 1

Plants with large leaves, a thick cuticle, and large air chambers in their mesophyll are aquatic, like the water lily, and adapted to thrive in freshwater environments.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the collection of a botanical garden, the environment that would have plants with large leaves covered with a thick upper cuticle, wide flat blades, and large air spaces (chambers) within its mesophyll tissue is representative of aquatic plants in freshwater environments, such as a water lily floating on water. These characteristics are adaptations that enable the plant to thrive in an aquatic habitat, where large leaves can float on the water's surface to absorb sunlight, and air chambers provide buoyancy.

The thick cuticle prevents water from saturating the leaves, which might otherwise cause them to sink or rot.The plant in which environment would have large leaves that are covered with a thick upper cuticle, exhibit wide flat blades, and possess large air spaces (chambers) within mesophyll tissue is aquatic plants in freshwater. Aquatic plants have adaptations to thrive in water, such as wide and flat leaves that allow them to float on the water's surface, and a thick upper cuticle to reduce water loss. The large air spaces within the mesophyll tissue provide buoyancy.