Final answer:
The function of lenticels is to facilitate gas exchange in woody stems by allowing oxygen to enter and excess water vapor to leave, which is crucial for the plant's metabolic processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lenticels are specialized structures in the bark of woody plants that allow for gas exchange with the surrounding environment. These lenticels make it possible for oxygen to penetrate into the stem while also providing an exit point for water vapor. Unlike the closely packed cells produced by cork cambium, lenticels have cracks and fissures, which serve this critical function. While they do open pathways for potential pathogens, the primary function is related to respiration and not for water absorption, supporting growth, or protection from predators.
Leaves typically handle the regulation of water loss through the stomata, which are different from lenticels. Stomata, surrounded by guard cells, open and close based on environmental cues and are instrumental in allowing carbon dioxide to enter for photosynthesis while controlling water loss from the leaf. Lenticels, on the other hand, are present on woody stems and facilitate gas exchange necessary for the plant’s metabolism.