Final answer:
The cuticle is a true adaptation that facilitated plant life on land by minimizing water loss. To balance the gas exchange needed for photosynthesis, plants also developed stomata to regulate gas and water vapor movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the cuticle of a leaf is one adaptation that enabled plants to move onto land is true. The cuticle is a waxy, waterproof layer that minimizes water loss through transpiration and is found on the aerial parts of the plant such as leaves and stems. This adaptation is crucial for terrestrial plants as it helps them retain water in dry environments. However, since the cuticle also prevents the intake of carbon dioxide, necessary for photosynthesis, plants have developed stomata, which are pores that can open and close to regulate the exchange of gases and water vapor.
Different types of plants have varying thicknesses of the cuticle depending on their environment. Desert plants, or xerophytes, and plants that grow on other plants, or epiphytes, have a much thicker cuticle compared to those in well-watered environments, or mesophytes. Additionally, some leaves may possess small hairs known as trichomes, which can help reduce water loss even further and protect the leaf from herbivory.